(re) introductions

portrait . 2025

i've had this blog since 2010, and have been actively updating it ever since. i'm really proud of keeping it going for this long. but maybe it's also time to reintroduce myself on here, especially to any new followers who might've stumbled onto this page in recent years. here we go!

• hello! i'm khalid mezaina, and artist from the united arab emirates (i'm also half-egyptian), based in dubai.
• i'm an illustrator, and also make textile works when the opportunity arises.
• i'm an alum of the rhode island school of design, the american university of sharjah, and saint mary's catholic high school dubai!
• i've been a freelancer for over ten years. prior to that, i worked in art institutions like the sharjah art foundation and tashkeel as a graphic designer and projects coordinator.
• i've worked on some really cool projects through the years, and really proud of my portfolio so far. please have a look through the blog to see examples. it's great to be able to do what i love as a job. admittedly, it's probably the only thing i'm good at!
• i have a love/hate relationship with the industry i'm in.
• i have a love/(mostly) hate relationship with human beings!
• my biggest influences have been comic books and music videos. i also think i acquired a lot of my interests and tastes growing up around my three older sisters.
• books, coffee and music are probably the three things i can't live without.
• i have an extensive collection of t-shirts, mostly themed around music and pop queens!
• i'm the original kylieji – the kylie minogue fandom is very real!
• three all-time favourite tv shows: absolutely fabulous, buffy the vampire slayer and gargoyles.
• since 2020, i've been a lover of cats.
• just like everyone, i make mistakes and come with flaws and all. it's a work in progress, probably best resolved away from social media and my screen.
• london is always a good idea – it's my favourite city to visit.
• i'm happiest on the dance floor, under the disco ball, losing myself to some good music...

between the tides

between the tides young person's guide . 2025

 

between the tides young person's guide illustrations . 2025

i had the pleasure of working on another young person's guide for nyuad art gallery's latest exhibition 'between the tides: a gulf quinquennial', curated by maya allison and duygu demir. i had so much fun working on the last guide (see previous post here), i was so happy to be asked to work on another one!

just like last time, i was in charge of both illustrations and layouts for the guide. the end result is really fun and i hope all the young people visiting the show enjoy interacting with the guide as they go through the exhibition. it was fun drawing the curators and selected works from the exhibition, some made by my friends and art peers. i hope i did everyone justice!

thank you to the nyuad art gallery team for the opportunity to work together again. a big thank you goes to alaa edris, head of content and publications, who is also a dear friend, for reaching out and working together on this. always a pleasure...

'between the tides: a gulf quinquennial' is on until 20 april 2025, so if in abu dhabi, make sure to check it out. and pick up a copy of the youth guide!

the rubbish monster

'the rubbish monster' i . 2024

'the rubbish monster' ii . 2024

'the rubbish monster' iii . 2024

'young voices of arabia 2024' publication . 2025 

i had the opportunity to work with voices of future generations (vofg) once again (see previous project here) on their 2024 edition of 'young voices of arabia', an annual publication that invites young creative writers between the ages 8 – 12 to submit short stories with the opportunity to be published. and like every edition, each story is supported with illustrations by invited artists and illustrators.

the story i was tasked to illustrate this year was 'the rubbish monster' by twelve year old author meera hamdan alabdouli – a story with themes of community, sustainability and being environmentally conscious . i hope meera is happy with my interpretation of her story.

'young voices of arabia 2024' is available in english and arabic via the voices of future generations' website. i'm happy to be published in three consecutive editions so far. thank you to the vofg team for the opportunity.

ramadan playing cards

ramadan illustrations for google . 2025

 

illustration application for google's ramadan playing cards . 2025

belated ramadan kareem wishes to those observing. hope it's been a blessed month so far...

i've always wanted to work on illustrations for playing cards but never made the time for it. i have to thank google for finally making it happen! i had the opportunity to work with them once again (see previous project here) on a limited edition deck of playing cards gifted to guests at their ramadan suhoor event. the brief was pretty simple – create culturally appropriate illustrations to substitute the all too familiar graphics on standard playing cards . the timeline was quite tight, but i'm super happy with the end result.

to anyone reading this and also gifted these, i hope you enjoy playing with them! thank you google for the opportunity once again...

khalid says dance

khalid says dance (gif) . 2025

a happy birthday to me – we made it to forty! i can't comprehend it yet since it was only yesterday i was in my thirties (where did this past decade go?!). all i can say is i'm truly blessed with all that life's offered so far. for the big 4-0, i thought i'd commemorate my special day by sharing my favourite thing to do – people should dance more...

followers of my work since the beginning would remember i made a 'khalid says relax' t-shirt almost 15 years ago (see here), inspired by katharine hamnett's iconic tees from the eighties. cut to 2025, and here we are with 'khalid says dance' tees to celebrate my fortieth. thank you to everyone that shared the birthday love. it hasn't gone unnoticed – love to you all... 

ending this post with a photo of me wearing 'khalid says dance' – who wants one?! shoutout to the workshop dxb for coming through with the tees.

'khalid says dance' t-shirt . 2025

palm door

palm door . 2025

'palm door' at 'the print room by the workshop dxb', 'the urban house', sikka art and design festival . 2025

here's my first project for 2025 – a new screenprint in collaboration with the workshop dxb!

the art circus has arrived, and to kick off the season is the sikka art and design festival. happening from january 31 to February 9 2025, the festival takes over a series of houses around the historical al shindagha neighbourhood, showcasing art, design, music and food from homegrown talents, creatives and businesses.

for this year's festival, i'm part of the 'the urban house' (house 196), exhibiting 'palm door' – a three coloured screenprint inspired by the beautiful metal doors found in older, traditional homes that are rarely seen today. the print will be exhibited and for sale at 'the print room by the workshop dxb' at 'the urban house', alongside prints by other participating artists.

i love how the final print turned out, especially the colours! thank you to the workshop dxb's ahmad for the invitation to participate, and for screeprinting 'palm door' at the print shop. if you ever need things screenprinted, the workshop dxb is your go to studio...

make sure to pass by 'the urban house' (house 196) while visiting sikka art and design festival, and get your hands on my screenprint (only 20 printed). it would make me very happy to hear that 'palm door' has sold out...

made in the emirates – volume 1

'made in the emirates – volume 1' front cover . 2024

 

'made in the emirates – volume 1' back cover . 2024

'made in the emirates – volume 1' digital mockup . 2024

'made in the emirates – volume 1' vinyl record sleeve (front) . 2024

'made in the emirates – volume 1' vinyl record sleeve (back) . 2024

'made in the emirates – volume 1' vinyl record label (side a) . 2024

'made in the emirates – volume 1' vinyl record label (side b) . 2024

'made in the emirates – volume 1' cassette (cover) . 2024

'made in the emirates – volume 1' cassette (side a) . 2024

i'm finally getting a chance to write a post about my favourite project i worked on last year – my illustrations are on a vinyl cover!!!

i had the pleasure of working on the artwork for vinyl souk dxb's first compilation record 'made in the emirates – volume 1'. the record features a diverse selection of music by nine artists from the music community. it's a great listen, and a genuine representation of a thriving, homegrown music scene.

i'm really proud to be a part of this important project, and super happy with how the artwork turned out in print. the illustrations of traditional doors and shop fronts, commonly found in older neighbourhoods around dubai and the rest of the emirates, should be familiar to those who have grown up in the uae or have lived here long enough to recognise these illustrated moments. and for the labels, i thought of softer moments within these sprawling neighbourhoods that i find beautiful – encounters with street cats or taking a moment to enjoy a cup of hot karak.

'made in the emirates – volume 1' is out in the world in vinyl and cassette formats (i love the artwork adaptation for the cassette too!). so far, the feedback for the record and the artwork has been extremely positive  – woohoo! to get your very own copy, head to the link here. and for those based in the uae, here's a useful list of all the stores where 'made in the emirates – volume 1' is stocked and available – click here.

i can't end this post without thanking the man behind vinyl souk dxb – jayesh. thank you for the opportunity and giving me a platform to share my illustrations. for those who know me, music is such an important part of my life. to work on a project like this is definitely one of the highlights in my career. thank you to everyone who's shared the love so far, i truly appreciate it. to more music related projects in the future...