Khalid Mezaina

Khalid Mezaina graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2006 with a BS in Visual Communication. A decade later, he was accepted into the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating with an MFA in Textiles in 2018.

Between his two degrees, he worked as a graphic designer and project coordinator at the Sharjah Art Foundation and Tashkeel. Since 2018 onwards, he has been concentrating on sustaining a full-time, independent studio practise in Dubai. Khalid actively participated in exhibitions and residencies, and has been developing his role as an art educator, teaching workshops for both children and adults.

Khalid Mezaina’s studio practise involves juggling self- initiated projects with freelance and client- based commissions. He works in print and surface design, with drawing and illustration being an integral component in his practice. Screen- printing is a technique he commonly uses, exploring traditional and innovative ways to print designs and patterns onto multiple surfaces.

Projects Khalid worked on so far range from prints, installations, murals, publications, stationary, packaging, apparel and textiles. He creates work with the intent of reaching out to an audience beyond gallery walls, sharing narratives about growing up in a city that’s constantly changing. Mezaina makes work to share what brings him joy – comic books, dance and music, costume and textile traditions from across the globe, and findings from the city he calls home. He hopes his work is a form of meaningful documentation amid the unremitting progress of the UAE, and puts a smile on people’s faces along the way.

Khalid Mezaina is a recipient of the Cultural Foundation Art Residency 2020.