KSA Goes To Hollywood: Starring Artist Abdulrahman Hamdi

The abstract artist opens up about his journey to success, proving resilience is key…

Determined and destined to be an artist from a young age, Abdulrahman Hamdi has used colour and texture to translate his thoughts and emotions for as long as he can recall. After encountering a near-death experience almost six years ago which tragically led to a coma, his calling as an artist was solidified.

“When it happened, there was a voice in my head to not give up, to let the artist in me speak,” he expresses, opening up about a life-changing car accident. “I have been through so many struggles in my life.”

Bipolar Acrylic on canvas

In his hometown of Jeddah, Abdulrahman never felt accepted as an artist – viewers didn’t appreciate the beauty in his art and the word ‘no’ was an everyday utterance towards him. And then, seemingly by a miracle, his world took a turn.

He found a home in Los Angeles in 2019, crossing paths with many other creatives fighting to make a name for themselves. “Here, I met Maxime Jacquet, who they call the bad boy of design,” he smiles.

Artist Abdulrahman Hamdi. Photo by Bobby McGowan

 Rapidly gaining recognition in the interior-design scene, Maxime moved to LA six years ago to work with none other than Rihanna’s design team, and since then, built a celebrity clientele including the likes of Beyoncé and Diana Madison.

“Maxime told me that I am bringing something new to LA,” recalls Abdulrahman, proudly. “When he said that, I actually started to realise that I am on the right path and I am not going to give up. I’m going to just do whatever it takes.” The artist’s latest project involved hanging ten of his paintings in a hillside house worth $14 million located in Los Feliz, one of LA’s most celebrity-studded areas.

An artwork by Abdulrahman Hamdi

An evocative dance of bright hues and clashing textures, his artworks exude a sense of calm, prompting the viewer to interact and engage with the vibrant yet meditative energy of the colour palette and every hand-painted line. “I believe that my art is just space of mind,” says Abdulrahman. “I will never allow someone to force their opinion on me, because I’m the artist.”

One of the challenges he faced, devastatingly, was also disapproval from his father. “My father is a judge,” he shares. “He would always say, ‘my son will never go to art classes because they are for women.'”

Abstract artist Abdulrahman Hamdi in his studio in downtown LA. Photo by Bobby McGowan

This was one of the struggles that I had as a Middle Eastern man who came from a religious family. I had so many obstacles. I cried many nights.” But this is exactly what made him who he is today.

Each composition is guided by the heartbreaking memories from the traumas he endured in his life, which are converted into positive, uplifting works of art.

The good bye Acrylic on canvas

“I feel like every one of us has a purpose in this life,” he says, pensive. “You might not know it yet, but you will. When anyone asked me what the reason was behind my paintings, I would simply say that I love painting. But no, that is not the truth. There are millions of painters in the world, right? Everyone has a story.”

A testament to his well-deserved success, Abdulrahman’s large-scale works have been exhibited twice at non-profit MiSK Foundation, and a solo show at Madinah Art Center is also under way.

Artist Abdulrahman Hamdi. Photo by Bobby McGowan

Likening art to music, every painting is linked with an emotion. “I feel it’s like a melody,” he smiles. “When you feel sad, you want to listen to a particular genre of music so that you can relate. And with a painting, sometimes you just want to see it because it reminds you of something beautiful.”

An artwork by Abdulrahman Hamdi

After facing so many struggles and rejections, there is not a single obstacle the artist couldn’t defeat. Admirably, coming so close to death was actually what liberated him the most.

“This is my story, and I’m going to share my story. I’m going to say what I feel. I’m going to debate, and I’m going to be an artist,” he says, adding three words that have changed his perspective on life forever as an artist and made him unstoppable: “I’m free now.” 

Photography by Bobby McGowan.

Harper’s Bazaar Saudi Summer 2021 Issue.