Self-taught Lebanese Artist Batoul Yaghi On Finding Her Voice

“To enchant a person with a painting is a moment where magic overpowers logic”

UAE-born self-taught abstract expressionist artist Batoul Yaghi‘s work centres on escaping reality and finding beauty without questioning its roots. Her signature style entitled Mindscapes has made its way into the homes of art collectors around the world and the artist has exhibited across Miami, Beirut, London and Dubai.

Here, she speaks to us about her spontaneous inspirations, establishing her signature style and her upcoming exhibition in March 2021.

Tell us about your background and journey of becoming an artist.

I was exposed to a multitude of cultures and varying art styles when living between Jordan, Beirut, London, Miami and the UAE. I’m a self-taught artist and have earned my MA in strategic marketing from Kingston University in London.

I was, however, exposed to the technical side of art at a very young age. As a child, I created charcoal sketches alongside my grandfather and spent most days watching my mother paint on silk for endless hours. My journey into my own art career was organic and natural. I kept practicing until my skill developed into a signature style and I found my voice.

What inspires you the most?

I get most inspired by beauty. A pattern on a dress of someone walking by, the colour arrangement of a bouquet of flowers, a whimsical scene from a movie or just a strong emotion.

Everything can make me paint. More so, Painting itself makes me feel inspired. It’s really hard to explain my state of mind while painting. In my head, the whole canvas is about to come to life. And it does.

Walk us through your latest series and what it represents.

The game changer for any creative is finding their own voice. I found my own in abstract impressionism where I developed a distinct style that I coined as Mindscapes.

Mindscapes are imaginary, whimsical impressions of landscapes as I visualise them inside my head. The canvases on which I paint them on are usually very large in order to conquer the blank wall (which I see as a symbol of a mundane reality). This concept is my voice and will continue to be seen in my works.

What do you hope viewers will take away from your Mindscapes style?

The large canvases used in my creations offer the audience a window large enough to offer an escape from reality. A window large enough to invite you in and get you lost in a daydream.

To enchant a person with a painting is a moment where magic overpowers logic. That is the moment I strive for and that’s what I want my viewers to take from my canvas.

What was the theme behind the ‘First Impressions’ solo exhibition in June 2020?

My last exhibition of 2020 was in June, amidst the worldwide pandemic. I created a series of 12 mindscape paintings. When you look at a large field with wild flowers, you don’t ask why you find it beautiful.

You just accept that it is and that is what my First Impressions series was about. Accepting something as beautiful at first instance, without a defined image or understanding why.  It’s just a beautiful impression and the first one is always important.

What’s next for you, any upcoming exhibitions we should know about?

It is a great pleasure and compliment, as it is to any artist, to have the vast majority of my work find its way into the homes of art lovers in places like Hong Kong, Australia, Miami, Kuwait, Lebanon and the UAE. It is a gratifying testimony that my art has resonated with people.

Currently in the studio, I’m always creating bespoke pieces for clients and I am also excited to share that I am in the middle of a new series that I plan to exhibit by March 2021.

My new paintings will portray the different types of our earth’s landscapes captured from a very ‘interesting’ view. I will let the work tell the rest of that story once it is ready to be shared, and I certainly hope to see you there.

To learn more about the artist, click here.