A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, publisher, Inkandescent Women magazine — It’s always an honor to introduce you to a truly amazing woman who has art as her superpower. That’s clearly the case with Bushra Shamma. Now a resident of Santa Fe, NM it’s an honor to share her gorgeous work with you. Below, you’ll find her artist statement, along with one of her gorgeous paintings, available on her website artbybushra.com. We look forward to featuring her more in upcoming issues. Enjoy!
Born in Syria, I grew up in Kuwait in the fifties and early sixties, when visual arts were not part of schools’ curricula and art museums and galleries did not exist. Later, living in London and Manhattan opened my eyes to the possibility of studying and practicing art.
I concentrated on realistic rendering of figures and landscapes using oil as the primary medium. After gaining confidence in those areas, I started working more abstractly.
Currently, my work is predominantly abstract, using acrylic and mixed media. My work is varied, prompted by my interest in exploring different techniques and motifs; the process is my main concern. I start with a color or a mark and proceed one step at a time responding to what is already there. I enjoy creating, testing limits, adding, erasing, making decisions, and stubbornly persevering until I feel I have reached a satisfactory resolution.
Although primarily abstract, my work can be minimalist, geometric, floral, calligraphic, or narrative/figurative when live models are available.
Overall, my work does not aim to make a statement but to exult in the power of the creative impulse, which I believe is the highest example of our evolution as humans.
Growing up, I was left-brained, excelling at math and languages. ‘Finding’ art gave the other side of me, the rebellious, contrary, lover of freedom, an outlet. I feel fortunate that art continues to be a joy and a quest for finding my inner self, as well as a respite from a fiercely divided and divisive world.