Bahraini artist blends heritage with modern art

Bahraini visual artist Anisa Al-Saad is among the prominent names who have successfully combined early artistic talent with professional experience. Her passion for art emerged in childhood, before her career led her into the banking sector, where she worked for many years.

Following her retirement, Al-Saad returned to fine art with renewed enthusiasm and a more mature artistic vision. She believes that creativity is not bound by age or a specific time in life, but rather grows from accumulated human experience. Al-Saad’s work is rooted in Bahraini heritage, reflecting her conviction that heritage forms the foundation of cultural identity and tells the first story of place and people.

Through her paintings, she draws inspiration from the Bahraini environment and traditional customs, presenting them through a contemporary artistic lens that preserves the spirit of the past while giving it a modern visual expression. She has participated in numerous art exhibitions and forums both within Bahrain and abroad, experiences that have enriched her practice and broadened her artistic and intellectual horizons. Her most recent participation was in the Fujairah Artists’ Forum, organised by the Fujairah Academy of Arts at Umbrella Beach, where she was one of 10 artists representing the Kingdom of Bahrain. She described the experience as a pivotal moment in her creative journey. Al-Saad said the forum offered more than an opportunity to display her work.

“It was a rich experience that reshaped my artistic vision and strengthened my ability to merge Bahraini heritage with modern techniques, making my paintings more dynamic and expressive,” she said. She also expressed her appreciation to everyone who contributed to the success of the forum, describing it as a space for genuine creativity and meaningful artistic exchange.