Inside the Middle Eastern Arts Collective’s Inaugural Gallery

On November 21st, 2025, the Middle Eastern Arts Collective held its inaugural art gallery in Alexandria, Virginia. Featuring Middle Eastern artists and live performances, the event connected Middle Eastern heritage to local audiences through cultural dialogue and exchange.

Featured Artists

Saya Behnam, a local Iranian artist working from the Torpedo Factory in Virginia, exhibited artwork composed of handmade colors derived from minerals, botanicals, and other pigments she discovered in nature. Beginning with a radial center expanding outwards, her work was centered on creating a space of hope, expansion, light, and energy.

Maryam Mohi, an Iranian multidisciplinary artist based in Maryland, displayed paintings that explored layered narratives of memory, identity, and transformation through acrylic, resin, and watercolor. Some of her pieces were also centered on female autonomy and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran.

Afaf Khalil, an Egyptian multidisciplinary artist based in Maryland, brought pieces deeply influenced by cultural duality, emotional resilience, and intuitive expression. Her artwork, influenced by abstract expressionism, used vibrant colors, minimal detail, and fluid form.

Najla Alradwan, a Kuwaiti ceramicist based in Maryland, exhibited a variety of pieces from ceramic ornaments and tiles to porcelain plates and cups. Her intricately designed pieces approached Islamic design through three-dimensional carving, Arabic lettering, and geometric patterns.

Ahmed Alkarkhi, an Iraqi painter based in Maryland, showcased a total of 17 artworks in both acrylic and oil. His artwork was inspired by his homeland of Baghdad, Iraq, and explored themes of memory and nostalgia. Alkarkhi also painted live at the reception and spoke briefly on his identity and journey as an Iraqi artist.

Accompanying Alkarkhi’s live painting was Arab American composer, vocalist, and oud player LAiTH ALATTAR, who performed throughout the night. His soulful vocals and oud composition were rooted in Middle Eastern musical elements and traditions.

Inside the Event

The Middle Eastern Arts Collective’s inaugural gallery took place at The Garden in Alexandria, Virginia. Located near the Eisenhower Metro Station, the exhibition drew in a diverse crowd of community members from Girl Scouts and students to educators and art enthusiasts. Throughout the evening, attendees engaged with Middle Eastern culture through authentic food, live music, and visual arts.

The complimentary food provided included dolma, spinach fetayer, beef sambousek, and baklava; traditional dishes that served as a connection to the Middle East’s roots and history. LAiTH ALATTAR also performed a blend of traditional and modern Middle Eastern music throughout the night, and created a captivating experience by roaming the gallery space and interacting with guests while performing.

The gallery also included a youth exhibit centered on the artwork of local students to foster artistic development, creativity, self-expression, and community engagement. Artists were given early insight into the workings of a gallery and exposure to Middle Eastern culture. The exhibiting young artists included Grayson Patrick, Andre Guthrie, Tiffany Tran, and Victoria Tran, who each exhibited works of different mediums.

The event concluded with a brief speech by Ahmed Alkarkhi and the unveiling of the painting he had been working on throughout the night. The mixed-media painting was structured around a dominant, vibrant color palette inspired by Iraqi folk heritage and consisting of red, orange, yellow, and blue acrylic paint. Layered on top of the paint was gold-leaf Arabic calligraphy derived from verse 2:207 of the Holy Quran. This moment was accompanied by an oud performance of traditional Middle Eastern music by LAiTH ALATTAR.

Media representatives from Al Iraqiya were also in attendance to document the event and conduct on-site interviews with exhibiting artists about their backgrounds, journeys, creative visions, as well as attendees about their experiences at the event.

What’s Next?

The Middle Eastern Arts Collective plans to continue fostering cross-cultural understanding, dialogue, and exchange through future programming and events. The organization is in the midst of planning its next art exhibition, scheduled for mid-to-late spring, and will continue producing interviews and media features for associated artists.