all manner of experiments

all manner of experiments young person's guide . 2026

 

i had the pleasure of working on another young person's guide for nyuad art gallery's latest exhibition 'all manner of experiments: legacies of the baghdad art group', curated by nada shabout. 

like previous guides, i was responsible for the illustrations and overall layout. and like previous guides, i really enjoyed working on this! being able to illustrate stunning artworks by some of iraq's most prominent artists is a real honour. what was also exciting was illustrating rand abdul jabbar, one of the exhibiting artists, as the guide's main character, navigating parents and children young and old to observe, question and be creative!

a big thank you goes to the nyuad art gallery for the opportunity to work on three young person's guides so far (see previous guides here and here). and a big thank you goes to my friend and artist alaa edris, head of content and publications at the the gallery, for reaching out and working together again. always such a pleasure...

if you haven't yet, make sure to check out the exhibition and pick up your copy of the young person's guide. 'all manner of experiments: legacies of the baghdad art group' is open until 3 january 2027.

the midlife crisis of tarboush boy

the midlife crisis of tarboush boy . 2026

twenty years ago, i created 'tarboush boy' when i was a student at university. the story behind the character was of a shy kid from the arab world who felt out of place, until he put on his lucky fez (or tarboush in arabic) and transformed into the confident tarboush boy! the last time i illustrated him was circa 2009 – some of you might have seen him exhibited a few times.

a lot has changed in twenty years, for both of us! but tarboush boy seems comfortable in his own skin now more than ever...

if you're an og follower of this blog and my work, do let me know if you remember the original tarboush boy, or if you happen to have any old sketches of him that i might've shared or gifted. 

i don't know why i never got around to working on an actual comic of his adventures over the years. maybe we weren't ready to go on those adventures together yet. but i think i might be ready now – stay tuned...

until then, i'm ending this post with a couple of thumbnails of tarboush boy from days past, pulled from my second-ever blog post back in 2010...

on the way to 403

on the way to 403 zine . 2026

floor mats . 2026

it's officially summer and things are very hot, and very slow – the perfect time to share a fun little zine i worked on to cope with the heat!

every time i visit my friend in apartment 403, i'm always drawn to the doormats outside other people's apartments along the way. each tells a little story about who's inside – some are simple, some are fun, and some are just pure cringe! i thought it would be a fun idea to photograph these doormats and collect them in a zine, titled 'on the way to 403'.

the zine is different from the work i usually share as it doesn't include any of my illustrations. but doormats are technically textiles so maybe there is a connection to my practice after all! regardless, it was a needed activity to do, stepping away from what i regularly do and try something different. another special thing about this zine is that it's fully riso printed, courtesy of my favourite riso studio in town, full special studio. the riso print quality really plays into the textures of these mats.  i'm really happy with how it's all come together as a final zine.

'on the way to 403' is officially out in the world and limited to fifty copies only (each are hand numbered and signed). stay tuned for announcements on where they'll be available very soon. 

bazyliszek (the basilisk of warsaw)

the basilisk of warsaw . 2026

here's a new post for the new month! i was invited by the uae board on books for young people (uaebby) to participate in this year's edition of 'folktales reimagined', an initiative where artists reinterpret folktales from around the world through illustration (see previous editions of 'folktales reimagined' here). as the emirate of sharjah is the guest of honour at this year's warsaw international book fair, the folktales for this edition are from poland. plus, polish illustrators had the opportunity to reinterpret and illustrate folktales from the emirates as well!

i was assigned the story of the 'bazyliszek' – the basilisk of warsaw. i worked on a single illustration to represent the story, adding an emirati flare! the basilisk here is inspired by the falcon, and the young apprentice who figures out how to defeat the creature is in traditional emirati wear, with an armour made of mirrors.

the final illustration above was exhibited at the national library of poland in warsaw alongside other reimagined folktales by emirati and polish illustrators and artists. i'm really happy with the final outcome of the illustration, and i hope whoever sees it likes it too! thank you so much uaebby for the opportunity to be a part of this year's edition of 'folktales reimagined' in poland. i've never been to warsaw – hopefully i'll be able to visit in the near future...

ending this post with the proposal sketch i worked on before moving to the final. there's something about the looseness and movement in the sketch that i really enjoy...

the basilisk of warsaw sketch . 2026

khalid says relax 2026

'khalid says relax' at dxb store announcement . 2026

 

'khalid says relax' t-shirt . 2026

i'm finally back with a new post and a little announcement – 'khalid says relax' tees are back!!!

in 2011, i launched a small collection of graphic t-shirts, including 'khalid says relax’ (see here), at the inaugural dxb store at art dubai. in 2013, 'khalid says relax' tees were re-released one last time as part of 'dxb store classics' (see here). the dxb store lasted three great years between 2011 – 2013 before closing its doors. 

in 2026, art dubai celebrates twenty years, and for this special anniversary edition, the dxb store is finally back! for the return of the dxb store, i've re-re-released a limited run of 'khalid says relax' tees to mark the occasion. after fifteen years, i hope my small nod to 1980s pop culture still resonates, and is a small reminder to relax when the world feels a little chaotic, especially during these current times. 

'khalid says relax’ t-shirts will be exclusively available at the dxb store in art dubai from 14 – 17 May 2026, at madinat jumeirah. make sure to head down to the fair and grab a tee or two before they're gone.

a couple of thank yous are in order – thank you to the dxb store team for reaching out to an og participant! i'm chuffed to be a part of the dxb store once again after all these years. lastly, shout out to the workshop dxb for always pulling through with printing.

ending this post with a photo of me wearing a (dare i say iconic) 'khalid says relax' t-shirt!

khalid wears 'khalid says relax' t-shirt . 2026

constellations for penhaligon's

'constellations' coffret by penhaligon's . 2026

'constellations' coffret by penhaligon's . 2026

'constellations' coffret by penhaligon's . 2026

'constellations' process . 2026

'constellations' process . 2026

i'm proud to finally share this very special project i worked on with the amazing penhaligon's. last year, i was approached by the brand to work on their upcoming ramadan campaign. i was stoked that a brand like penhaligon's were familiar with my work and wanted to collaborate! incidentally, they were drawn towards my textile visual vocabulary and wanted to incorporate it in the collaboration – a first for me when approached for commercial, client based work.

i worked on the visuals you see above through the first half of 2025, and i'm happy to finally see it out in the world! titled 'constellations', the artwork is inspired by patterns of stars and shapes in the sky. even though this was a ramadan project, i wanted the artwork abstract enough so it can live beyond the holy month and not look ramadan specific only. the artwork was applied onto a coffret, which houses beautiful fragrances by the brand, and also opens up as a backgammon board. the final product is so beautiful, and i'm truly honoured to be a part of it.

the 'constellations' coffret is a limited edition item numbered to 120 pieces only. so if you're based in dubai, the coffret is available at the newly opened penhaligon's boutique in dubai mall. and if in london, the coffret is available at penhaligon's regent street and harrods.

i can't thank the penhaligon's team enough for having me on board this project. it's moments like these where i feel truly blessed for the career i have built so far and the opportunities that come my way. to more collaborations as special as this one in the future...

ending this post with a short promo video via penhaligon's instagram page – hear me speak a bit more on the project here.

photography by ben cope, video by klaudia adamski, courtesy of penhaligon's

ramadan door

ramadan door . 2026

 

ramadan door riso print . 2026

it's that time of year again – ramadan kareem to all those observing. may it be a holy month filled with blessings, spiritual reflection and doing good. i've honestly struggled with ramadan in recent years, finding it difficult to discipline myself and properly follow through with the month. but like every year, i hope i can be better then the last. wish me luck...

and like every ramadan, i'm happy to present projects in the spirit of the holy month! here's a print i worked on in collaboration with my favourite risograph studio in town, full special studio. 'ramadan door' is a four colour risograph commemorating ramadan 2026, inspired by the beautifully intricate metal doors of uae homes which are slowly fading away. i'm really happy with the illustration, and even more ecstatic with the outcome of the risograph print! it has such a beautiful quality to it that only a risograph printer can create.

'ramadan door' is an edition of fifty, sized to a3 (29.7 x 42 cm) and officially available for you to get your hands on! prints are available directly through full special studio either by visiting their physical space in abu dhabi or through their online shop here. for those based in abu dhabi, prints are also available at mina creamery for a limited time so grab one of their amazing ice creams and buy a print or two! and for those in dubai, prints are available at my favourite independent bookstore, hobb.

i hope everyone reading this loves the print as much as i do. support an independent artist and his independent risograph studio friend by purchasing a 'ramadan door' print! it would make us so happy...