10 Questions with Alivia Khaled

Alivia khaled is a self-taught artist and lawyer based in Kuwait. She discovered her passion for drawing during high school, where she attended art classes for extra credit. These classes played a crucial role in structuring her artistic skills and nurturing her love for art. Additionally, her mother, who used to paint portraits, served as an inspiration and further fueled her artistic journey.

Drawing inspiration from her surroundings and personal experiences, Alivia creates captivating artwork that reflects her perspective of many areas in our daily lives, whether it’s objects, movies, events, theories, etc. As a lawyer, she finds solace in art, feeling like it’s her only way to speak of the unspoken and reflect the unseen. She uses it as a creative outlet to unwind from the demands of her profession. Her artwork serves as a means of self-expression and allows her to explore different themes and emotions. As a self-taught artist, every artwork is an adventure that gives her a chance to explore and examine.

Alivia’s artistic style is characterized by a blend of contemporary, surreal, and abstract drawings and sometimes even paintings. She often works with grey pencil, which is the staple of her work, using a variety of shading techniques to create brightness and contrast. She points out the beauty of colorless art, giving the viewer a wide space for imagination.

In each collection, Alivia tells a different story and incorporates a different medium alongside her pencil-drawn artworks to label the story of that collection and individualize it, creating visually striking compositions that engage the viewer. There is no specific objective or preference in choosing a medium for any collection; instead, she selects what would bring the theory behind it to life. From various types of paint to golden or silver leaf, or even something as random as rope or newspaper, she explores different materials that add satisfaction to the idea she wants to deliver.

She believes pencil highlights the beginning of her art as much as it highlights the beginning of humanity's evolution.

www.byalivia.com | @artsbyalivia

Time In Space, Pencil and gold leafs on paper, 22x113 cm, 2023 © Alivia Khaled

INTERVIEW

First of all, tell our readers a little bit about you. Who are you, and how did you start experimenting with images?

I am a self-taught artist and lawyer based in Kuwait. Born and raised in Kuwait, I discovered my passion for drawing during high school, where I attended art classes for extra credit. These classes played a crucial role in structuring my artistic skills and nurturing my love for art. Additionally, my mother, who had always been intrigued by all forms of art, and passed her knowledge to me, also used to paint portraits, served as an inspiration, and further fueled my artistic journey.

You are a self-taught artist. How did you develop into the artist you are today?

Back when I was in school, I used to love the feeling of drawing precisely. The whole idea of what I can create using one pencil was fun for me to explore. That curiosity grew even more during my years in law school when I started drawing sketches with the mediums I had in hand. I tried pens and markers, but pencils were the only ones I felt drawing with, was liberating. On the other hand, the subjects I draw are all from my own fantasy. Learning about art made by great artists like Salvador Dali, Magritte, Da Vinci, Max Ernest, etc. gave me confidence in being bold and free in what I draw or paint.

Disconnected, Pencil and gold leaf on paper surrounded by mirrors, 50x50 cm, 2023 © Alivia Khaled

Can you tell us about the process of creating your work? What aspect of your work do you pay particular attention to?

I draw from inspiration I receive from things around me, like shapes of objects or certain events, songs, books, and many more. I usually start drawing the main thing that inspired me. It is usually something we are all familiar with, and that is what I call the heart of my artwork. I gradually build up patterns or other objects around it that make it more interesting to me throughout the process and to the viewer when it’s done. That, I would say, is the most important aspect to me; the process should always be an adventure in a world I’m creating and a mystery in the eyes of the beholder.

Let’s talk about your color palette and techniques. You have recurring colors, such as black and golden. What do they represent for you?

Black and white represents good and bad in my art, exactly like the concept of Yin and Yan, and it is considered the staple of my art as the result of using Grey and black pencils. Golden, on the other hand, is a color I chose recently for a collection called “The Photon,” where it represents Light, the exact opposite of black.

And what are your preferred techniques for your work?

I prefer to draw on any given day and Paint when I feel like it.

Did you experiment with anything new recently? Or is there anything you want to try in the future?

Yes! I recently have started experimenting with submerging collages, abstracts, and drawings on wooden panels. I can’t say that it was easy to manage the durability factor, but thankfully I did. And now I’m just enjoying the fun and playful process of creating more of that.

What is your favorite experience as an artist so far?

The result of an artwork I’ve spent many hours on would be the best experience. The reaction of viewers and their feedback is also one of my favorite moments.

What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future? Anything exciting you can tell us about?

I am currently working on a collection called The Photon, which is inspired by science, particularly the Theory of Relativity. Where I combine surrealism and abstract using pencil and gold to highlight the idea of the theory and my imagination.
I am planning on showcasing my art throughout Spain and New York this year as it has been a dream to do so. I hope this year I will make this dream come true.

Untitled, Pencil gold leafs on paper and mirror surrounding the drawing, 2023 © Alivia Khaled

What is one lesson you learned this past year? And how did it help you further develop your art?

I think in my art journey, every moment had its learning point. I can say this year I mainly learned that fear is the enemy of my art, and the bolder I am while creating, the better.

Finally, share something you would like the world to know about you.

As a full-time lawyer who finds solace in creating art, I want the world to know that everything you dream of is possible if u set your mind to it. The circumstances will align, the time will align, and the universe will also align with your goals. Just keep creating and enjoy your time while doing so.

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.

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