Born in Dallas, Texas in 1999, and currently working in Austin, Texas, Libyan artist Hajer Deyaf has always had a profound connection with and appreciation for The Arts, instilled in her by her sister from a very young age. This passion grew as she pursued Fine Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in Oil Painting, Printmaking, and Photography. Her work is inspired by the history of Classicism, a term often attributed to Rome and Greece during the Renaissance era, a time of remarkable intellectual and cultural achievements. However, she believes that the Western/European societies often overlook the significant contributions of Muslims and the Islamic World during that period.
Living and growing up in America, where this historical truth is rarely acknowledged, the artist began to feel a disconnect from her own understanding of the MENA region, especially her homeland, Libya. Over the years, she grew and felt distant from her roots, with little knowledge and ties to Libya, and a growing sense of not fully belonging in the West. Nonetheless, with a touch of optimism, in 2020, she embarked on a journey to rediscover herself, her heritage, and rekindle a sense of belonging to her home. Through family stories, vintage photo albums, and a brave decision to return to Libya in May 2023 after a 12-year absence, she finally found the spark of reconnection she had longed for.
The traditionalist standpoint always fascinated the young artist, but her primary objective is to push the boundaries of traditionalism while preserving its charm and adding a dash of allure. She seeks to reinvent what has been overlooked and reclaim her cultural heritage and to tell the history of her family and home country of Libya. Hajer's work serves as a critical study of herself and her ancestry, as she decolonizes her mind to reconnect with her roots and find her true point of origin. Her mission is to pave the way for a new wave of cultural influence in the art scene.
EDUCATION
2022 BFA University of Texas at Austin, Studio Art
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 Eskender Art House: بنت ليبيّة (Libyan Girl), Tripoli, Libya
2021 Washington State University Cub Gallery: أنا ليبية (I Am Libyan), Pullman, WA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Eskender Art House : ليالي الصيف, Tripoli, Libya
2022 ICOSA Art Collective: Good In Tensions, Austin, TX
COLLECTORS
2022 Mishal Kanoo, Chairman of The Kanoo Group, Dubai
2022 Mohammad Javed, New York
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS / PHILANTHROPY
2024 Anoshin Foundation: “Night of Hope: GALA for Hawaii, Morocco, and Libya”
Charity Gala for Natural Disaster Relief raising $3,000. I created an original, 2 out of 3, Mixed Media piece titled “Self Preservation of My Civilization” that went in a silent auction.
2023 Islamic Relief
Artwork Charity Giveaway for Libya's Flood relief raising $3,439. I organized a Charity Giveaway where three lucky winners had the chance to win an original limited edition Lithography Print titled “Holy Book Club” in Color through my social media.
2023 Charity Right Australia
Artwork Charity Giveaway for Orphaned Children raising $20,455. I organized a Charity Giveaway in Ramadan where three lucky winners had the chance to win an original limited edition Lithography Print titled “Self Preservation of My Civilization” through my social media.
2022 Charity Right Australia
Artwork Charity Giveaway for Orphaned Children raising $3,006. I organized a Charity Giveaway in Ramadan where two lucky winners had the chance to win an original limited edition Lithography Print titled “Leptis Magna Nostalgia” through my social media.
PRESENTATIONS / ARTIST TALKS
2021 Panel Discussion: MENA in Unique Professions, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
As a Libyan who grew up in America, when I began my career as an artist I made an intentional decision to reconnect with my roots through my art. Since then, my work has grown beyond personal reflection. Now, it’s about highlighting the beauty of my heritage with the rest of the world; a beauty often overshadowed by years of conflict. My exhibition of “بنت ليبية” (“Bint Libeeya” | “Libyan Girl” | “Daughter of Libya”) is a tribute to the women of my county—those who have been at the heart of every story I’ve ever told through my art.
In all my paintings, women are always at the forefront, embodying the beauty, resilience, and strength that define not only themselves but also the essence of true Libyan culture. For me, it is through the experiences and characteristics of women that stories of identity, heritage, and strength are best told. It is about stories told and retold through its women.
The title “Bint Libeeya” reflects this focus. Each piece in this exhibition highlights the powerful narrative of Libyan women—both as individuals and as symbols of our nation’s rich cultural fabric. This collection is a celebration of their unyielding spirit, a portrayal of their strength in the face of adversity, and a homage to the beauty they bring to our world, ill bint Libeeya.
Held in the old city of Tripoli, Libya hosted by Mustafa Eskender in Bhet Eskender (Eskender Art House) from October 5th - October 19th of 2024 featuring 23 works of art created over the span of 5 years; 5 of which were new never before seen pieces that were created in 2024 for debut in Bhet Eskender..
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