I was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt a vibrant city that maintained it's ancient historic traditions of 4,000 years BC and assimilating diverse multiple cultures of western occupation during the past 2000 years of foreign occupation. At home it was the middle class Coptic Egyptian tradition, at school at the "Lycée Français du Caire", my sister and I were learning and living the French culture at its best. At the age of 12, I started drawing portraits with pencil of family and friends, then switched to water color. Portraits were done on paper with such details and resemblance of character that friends & family were asking me to draw them. It wasn't until high school that I was invited to attend the School of Fine Art, the only academy of Fine arts in Cairo. I did well painting live models using mainly oil media among others. I was also advanced in math in High School, and considering my organized logic mind with my gifted creative nature, this prompted me to seek a creative profession that combined math and art. Architecture is by nature interdisciplinary, encompassing art and engineering. The year I graduated, I started my own practice with residential commissions for many private residences in Cairo, Egypt, and was the first practicing woman architect in Egypt.  

In 1970, with my husband and 2 children, we immigrated to the US, residing in New York for 3 years, then in New Jersey for over 30 years. I passed the Board of Architecture licensing in 1975, and obtained my reciprocal registration in New Jersey, followed by New York and other states. In 1993, with my husband Saad Morgan, an Artist and Interior Designer, we started Morgan Architecture, Inc., a small practice firm in Princeton, NJ. After the loss of my younger son in 1985, followed by my husband in 1995, I continued to practice and was commissioned by 5 Churches as well as residential and commercial projects in New Jersey. In 2007 I moved to New Orleans, following my older son who started a faculty position at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he is now a full Professor at the school of Education. 

Describe your art in three words.

Inspirational, Abstract Impressionism, Contemporary 

Describe yourself in one word.

 Original 

What do you love the most about creating art in your community? What particular part of your immediate environment, in your neighborhood specifically influences your work?

To communicate my impressions on natural life created on earth  to the community. 

Describe your creative process. Are there any rituals or rites of passage you exercise before you begin a new piece?

My creative processes and ideas start from my instinct, from within me, and develops as I progress in the technical process of the design including spatial, linear, organic, planar. Colors, textures, lines, distribution of areas in relation to the subject focus all works in tune with each other as the painting develops.

My abstract impressionist style employs mixed media, mainly acrylic gold leaves, pigments, watercolor gouache, and collage. Lines, forms, and selection of colors are intentional; nothing is random, and meaning is expressed during the whole painting process. The final work allows viewers to form their own interpretation. This multimedia process is built up from several layers of acrylic paint, pigments, lines and a mix of Gold, Silver and Bronze leaves. The lines connecting the forms have an organic continuous journey that is architectural, rigid & loose at same time. Each shape is akin to an individual form acting within a pictorial whole piece. The shapes are mainly expressive to imply an emotional feeling.

Where do you draw inspiration?

From within, Nature creation, and life experience  

In New Orleans, art and music go hand in hand. What type of music, band or song lyric best describes your work?  

Jazz and music of the 60s

Where can we find you when you are not creating art?

Swimming, cooking, entertaining friends and reading

What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year?

the mornings; Mondays; beginning of the month

What is something people don’t know about you? A fun fact.

I love people and like to make people loved, and take it easy since life is short.

Works listed online may be available to be viewed at Where y’Art Works Gallery by appointment.

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