About the Artist
Success had always been second nature to me. Discipline and determination carried me far, eventually landing me a high paying role in Abu Dhabi. At first, it was thrilling. My performance impressed my boss, colleagues admired my dedication, and everything looked picture-perfect. But beneath the surface, something was unraveling. Endless work, zero selfcare, and a crippling fear of failure pushed me into a spiral of burnout. My focus vanished, my confidence dimmed, and soon I found myself in the hospital.
That’s when I discovered art. Painting became my medicine, my sanctuary, and my way back to balance. Each brushstroke brought me closer to peace, presence, and myself. Today, I live by one truth: listen to your body’s signals. Because when the body breaks, so does the mind, but when you nurture it, both can heal.
Maryam Abu Hijleh, 31, is an American artist from Boston, Massachusetts. With roots on the East Coast, her creative journey spans across acrylics, watercolor, mixed media, and graphic design. This diverse background allows her to merge traditional fine art with modern digital aesthetics, producing a style that is unmistakably her own. Maryam’s work reflects both technical mastery and emotional depth.
Her inspiration for this work came from challenging herself to create a unique piece composed of dots using the Bauhaus color scheme. What started as an exploration of style ended with an original pop art style Arabian horse.
