96 ART & SCULPTURES
A GALLERY OF
INSPIRATION
One of the reasons that first pushed Alia to open her gallery years ago was to showcase Oman and its heritage to the public . “ I want tourists to see Oman in a contemporary way ,” says Alia . Born in Muttrah , a center of marine trade in Oman with a rich heritage , at a time of historical change in the country , left a long impact on the artist ’ s life . “ The fast growth of Oman has affected our traditional lifestyles and the way we communicate with each other . Through my art , I want to preserve our identity ,” says Alia .
Alia Gallery stands in the heart of an industrial town in Muscat serving as an oasis of colour and haven for those who seek inspiration .
Founded by renowned Omani artist Alia Al Farsi , the 860 m2 warehouse is home to more than 120 art pieces , all crafted by Alia Al Farsi .
Born in the culturally rich town of Muttrah , Alia was imbued to become an avid explorer and culturist to an affinity for historic towns . She says that she is a non-believer in self-imposition of stylistic boundaries , she takes her inspiration from patterns and vernacular architecture .
Selling in renowned auctions such as Christie ’ s , Al Fanar , and Arabian Wings , her art is celebrated and appreciated in many parts of the world as her art collectors come from different parts of the world .
She held major solo exhibitions in cities like Paris , Tokyo , and Geneva .
She was chosen to be the first Omani artist to exhibit officially at Venice Biennale 2017 and won the prestigious Dr Saud Al Sabah Creativity Award in 2010 .
Any viewer of Alia ’ s work , or visitor to her gallery , will quickly realize that the inspiration behind most of her artwork in the gallery is her country , Oman .
Many of her artworks feature faces of the people of the Oman , as well as silhouettes dressed in colorful traditional clothes . Placed in the corner of Alia Gallery ’ s entrance is perhaps her most iconic painting titled But Mostly Me , which depicts a woman dressed in orange and black traditional clothes , confidently sitting on a chair .
Alia painted this as soon as the construction work on her gallery ended . The evening the work concluded , she went home , sat on her favorite sofa and made sure to paint a painting that reflects her true self , feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment , she tells me .
Alia Gallery does not only showcase the work of the Omani artist , but also houses a public library , a quiet space for visitors that holds books on philosophy , arts , selfdevelopment , in addition to biographies , novels and publications of Dar Al Saqi that feature Alia ’ s art on their covers . The gallery also has a cafe called Alia Lounge , where people can enjoy a cup of coffee or any beverages after their visit . A gift shop was also recently opened , offering a wide collection of shirts , prints of artwork , espresso cup sets , bookmarks and many other products inspired by her paintings . Alia ’ s future plan for the gallery is to make it an “ internationally acclaimed art hub that people across the world would fly to visit ,” she says .
The gallery has recently signed partnership with luxurious automobile brands and hosted the private reveal of the Aston Martin Valhalla .
The gallery also displays a collection of its artworks in Muscat International Airport VIP Lounge ( primeclass ) and the Sultan Qaboos University .
www . aliagallery . com
THE ART OF LUXURY Issue 53 2022