The Artist
"I love the world of numbers and equations as well as the world of color and art, and by virtue of my studies and my specialization in mathematics, I am fascinated by arithmetic equations and geometric shapes, and I found myself unconsciously following them in my style of painting, in composition and coloring."
Mayasa Sultan AlSowaidi was born on the island of Muharraq in Bahrain. She completed her higher education at Grenoble University in France, where she earned her doctorate in Business Administration and Emotional Intelligence. Currently, she works as an assistant professor at the Business College of Bahrain University teaching creativity and innovation management and entrepreneurial strategy. Additionally, she is a member of the Bahrain Innovation and Technology Transfer Center (BITTC).
Mathematics has introduced the factor of commitment and poise in the artistic life of Mayasa, and this is the main engine of her artistic experience, which gave her freedom of expression and a base to explore and extract all kinds of creativity inside her. Mayasa did not specialize in art and did not graduate from art academies, but rather gained her knowledge through Intensive courses and continuous experimentation and research in the world of color.
In 2005, she embarked on her journey in art and has since showcased her work in Bahrain and other countries such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, India, Italy, and several Arab and Gulf capitals. In 2019, she held her solo exhibition on The Art of Tea in Paris, where she launched her book Legend of Tea. She has received numerous awards for her conceptual art, with the most notable being the first (Public Vote Prize) from Sovereign Middle East and North Africa in 2016 for a painting made of tea bags (The Tea Whispers), which was sold at Christie's auction in Dubai. Mayasa won the Al Dana award at Bahrain's Annual Fine Arts Exhibition 49th edition and received multiple other awards.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
The Golden Ration | Art Center | Bahrain | 2023
Tea Art Exhibition | | Paris | 2019
Identity Exhibition | Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore | Milan | 2019
Food is Culture Festival – Art of Tea Exhibition | Bahrain National Museum | 2016
King Fahd Causeway | Bahrain | 2013
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Bahrain Annual Exhibition of Fine Arts | | 2025 (Annual participation since 2012)
The Bahrain Arts Society’s Annual Exhibition | 2024
Women Printmakers | Bahrain | 2019
Art BAB | Bahrain Exhibitions Center | 2019
Bahrain Art Week | Grand Palais, Paris | 2018
India Art Fair | New Delhi | 2018
The Bombay Art Society Exhibition | | India | 2017
I AM Exhibition| National Gallery of Fine Arts | Amman; London and Washington, D.C | 2017
Lancaster House, Asia House | London | 2016
BAAB Exhibition ‘Bahraini Artist Across Borders’ | Victoria & Albert Museum | London | 2016
The Palms Views Exhibition | |Bahrain | 2016
Exhibition of Kuwaiti Fine Arts with the Participation of Artists from Gulf |
Republic of Cyprus International Art Symposium | Oman | 2015
AWARDS & HONORS
Recipient of the Acquisition Award, with a Solo Exhibition at Folk Art Gallery, awarded at the Annual Exhibition of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, held at Bahrain National Museum, 2026.
Awarded The First-Class Medal of Proficiency by His Majesty the King of Bahrain 2024
Al Dana award at Bahrain’s Annual Fine Arts Exhibition 49th Edition 2023
Public vote winner of The Sovereign Middle East and North Africa Art Prize 2016
Award of Kuwait Forum for Modern Art 2014
First Award in Nadine Gallery’s Annual Exhibition for Bahraini Female Artists 2013
Jury Award, Third Gulf Forum, Dr. Suad Al-Sabah Award, Kuwait City – 2012
EDUCATION
University of Bahrain
Assistant Professor of Creativity & Innovation Management | 2014-Current
Central Bank of Bahrain
Superatindent of IT Planning & Development | 2000-2013
EXPERIENCE
Grenoble Ecole de Management France
PhD in Business Administration | 2019
New York Institute of Technology
Master of Business Administration | 2008
University of Bahrain
B.Sc. in Mathematics | 2000
MEMBERSHIPS
Advisory Committee of Safia Kanoo Arts Centre | Since 2024
Bahrain Innovation & Technology Transfer Center | Since 2019
Bahrain Fine Art Society | Since 2005