Artist of the week: Contemporary Artist Shadab Khan

Our Artist of the Week is multi-award-winning, Dubai-based artist Shadab Khan, whose contemporary practice is defined by movement and colour

Khan found her sense of identity through art, going on to represent India as an Ambassador at the UNESCO Art Camp in Andorra and receiving the UAE’s Cultural Golden Visa for her contributions to art and culture.

Art in the Middle caught up with Khan to chat about her creative journey, the inspirations behind her vibrant practice and the moments that have shaped her career so far...

What drives your art?

What drives my art is a deep curiosity about life and its unseen dimensions. I am inspired by nature, energy and the beauty that exists at every scale. Art became my way of discovering my true identity and expressing emotions and stories that words cannot capture. Fluid art, in particular, allows me to surrender control and collaborate with the natural flow of colours, much like life itself.

What art piece are you working on now and what is the story behind it?

At present, I am immersed in a contemporary seascape series. The sea mirrors the essence of my fluid art practice, constantly moving, unpredictable and alive with energy. It brings me calmness, yet at the same time stirs excitement, much like the flow of emotions within us.

Through this body of work, I allow fluid techniques to guide the movement of colour, echoing the natural rhythm of waves. Alongside fluidity, I am consciously exploring texture art, building layers that add depth. For me, mastery lies in evolution. I believe an artist must continuously experiment with new techniques, pushing boundaries while staying true to their core. This ongoing dialogue between fluid motion and textured surfaces defines my current creative journey.

How does your environment or culture shape what you create?

Living in Dubai, a city surrounded by the sea, desert and an ever-evolving skyline, constantly influences my process. The vastness of the ocean, the fluidity of shifting sands and the rhythm of urban life naturally translate into my work through flowing forms, layered textures and bold compositions.

Culturally, my Indian roots ground my art in richness, emotion and an intuitive relationship with colour, while Dubai’s multicultural energy encourages experimentation and contemporary expression. This intersection of tradition and modernity, stillness and motion, is reflected in my fluid and mixed-media practice.

What’s one thing you want people to feel when they see your art?

I want people to feel transported, lost in an imaginative, meditative space where time slows down. My goal is for viewers to feel a sense of wonder, energy and emotional connection, as if they are gazing into a universe that feels both unfamiliar and deeply personal.