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Meet UAE artist who 'challenges boundaries' as she connects the past, future in her artwork
Latifa Saeed, a Dubai-born multidisciplinary artist, draws upon the region’s cultural and natural heritage to create works that transcend mere form
- PUBLISHED: Sat 8 Mar 2025, 5:30 AM UPDATED: Tue 3 Jun 2025, 10:59 AM
In the dynamic landscape of the UAE, where tradition and modernity blend seamlessly, one artist has made it her mission to capture the essence of perpetual motion — both in the physical world and in the realm of ideas.
Latifa Saeed, a Dubai-born multidisciplinary artist, draws upon the region’s cultural and natural heritage to create works that transcend mere form by transforming public spaces into narratives of motion and resilience. She thinks globally, embraces innovation, and challenges boundaries.
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Her latest creation, Al Sarmadi, goes beyond being just a sculpture — it stands as a profound conversation between space, time, and the continuous rhythm of existence.
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Raised in the ever-evolving city of Dubai, Latifa was immersed in an environment of transformation. “My childhood shaped my perspective—to think globally, embrace innovation, and challenge boundaries,” she told Khaleej Times on the occasion of International Women's Day.
The UAE, a crossroads of civilisations, has long been a place where heritage and progress exist in harmony. This duality is deeply woven into Latifa’s artistic philosophy, where storytelling, poetry, and cultural memory merge with a future-focused vision.
Symphony of strength and motion
At the heart of Latifa’s creative practice is a fascination with movement — a force that drives her latest public installation, Al Sarmadi. Commissioned by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) for the NAS Sports roundabout in Nad Al Sheba, the installation uses stainless steel rods to capture fluidity and momentum, transforming motion into art.
“The work is a tribute to speed, resilience, and continuity,” Latifa explained, adding: “Few symbols convey these qualities as powerfully as the horse.”
Al Sarmadi is a stunning composition of strength and motion. The sculpture features eight horses mid-canter, their forms frozen in various stages of movement. Together, they create a rhythmic contrast between stillness and dynamism, mirroring the pulse of the city that surrounds them.
Art in perpetuity
Describing her artwork, Latifa noted: “The vortex they generate at the roundabout’s heart is an illusion of perpetual motion. As vehicles pass, the sculpture comes alive—never static, always shifting.”
In Arabic, Al Sarmadi translates to ‘perpetual’ — a word that encapsulates both the relentless energy of the piece and the broader artistic philosophy it embodies.
“Perpetuity speaks to the uninterrupted rhythm of existence—the currents of nature, the cadence of cities, the invisible forces that shape our world,” Latifa explained, noting her work captures this eternal ebb and flow, distilling movement into something tangible yet endlessly evolving.
Art for the people
For Latifa, art is not confined to galleries and museums; it belongs to the people. "Public art should be experienced as part of daily life. It transforms urban spaces into cultural landmarks, enriching the city’s soul," she said.
In a country where architecture and innovation shape the skyline, public art serves as a vital force that humanises urban spaces. "Art builds bridges. It preserves the past while propelling us forward, linking history, present, and future in a continuous flow," Latifa emphasised.
Latifa’s career has been marked by a series of prestigious exhibitions and accolades. A graduate of Zayed University with a degree in Arts and Sciences (2007), she has since carved out a significant place in the contemporary art scene.
In 2019, she received the Emerging Artist Fellowship from the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation in collaboration with the Rhode Island School of Design in Abu Dhabi. Two years later, she was awarded a grant from the Misk Art Institute in Riyadh and showcased her work in Under Construction at The Prince Faisal bin Fahd Fine Arts Hall. That same year, she was a finalist for the Richard Mille Art Prize, with her work exhibited at the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Art Here initiative under the theme Memory, Time, Territory.
In 2024, Latifa participated in the Venice Biennale as part of Abu Dhabi Art's Beyond Emerging Artists programme, showcasing Dust Devils at Marignana Arte. Her work explored the Gulf desert phenomena through the interplay of air, fire, water, and earth, further cementing her presence on the global art stage.
Latifa’s international presence has continued to grow, culminating in a milestone achievement—becoming the first Emirati artist to present a solo exhibition in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Black Silhouette, curated by art historian Valeria Ibraeva, showcased Latifa’s ability to bridge cultures through artistic expression.
For Latifa, art is more than an aesthetic experience—it is a movement, a force, a story in constant motion. With Al Sarmadi, she invites the world to witness, engage, and ultimately move with it.