Muna Al-Bader  

(Qatari, b. 1986)

Cultural Bonds, 2021

Spray paint on canvas

Commissioned for the Qatar – USA 2021 

Year of Culture

Ongoing | Through October 2022

Public Art UHS has joined forces with the Diplomacy Institute of University of Houston-Clear Lake—established in 2020 in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar—and Qatar Museums to celebrate the Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture by commissioning a mural from Qatari artist Muna Al-Bader.

Muna Al-Bader (Qatari, b. 1986) trained as an engineer and business analyst in her native Doha but has worked as an artist for nearly two decades. Al-Bader is best known for color-filled paintings that blend realistic elements and abstraction, while merging iconic Qatari traditions and culture with Western artistic lexicons. Her paintings have been shown at many solo exhibitions in Qatar, including the Dandanah Exhibitions of 2019 and 2020, the youth creative art center, and the Arab youth forum (2007 and 2009). Her murals are mainstays in Doha and have been prominently featured in various art festivals including Doha 360 in 2018. Al-Bader is a member of the Qatar Fine Arts Association and the Souq Waqif Art Center. She currently serves as Qatar’s art ambassador to the UNESCO’s ResiliArt Talk program.

The Qatar-USA Year of Culture 2021 Mural Project at the University of Houston is supported by Qatar Museums, Exxon Mobil and Qatar Airways.

Location

University of Houston

Arts District (Exterior of the College of Technology Building)




Beautiful in Blue: Artist Muna Al-Bader Connects Cultures with New Mural at UH

(December 2021) “Cultural Bonds,” in all its blue glory, illustrates half a century of cultural ties and strong diplomatic relations between the United States and Qatar, Al-Bader’s home country. 

Connecting Cultures: Qatari Artist Muna Al-Bader Paints Mural at UH

(November 2021) Qatari artist Muna Al-Bader is bringing her brushes and famous shades of blue paint to the University of Houston for an interactive event that truly illustrates the meaning of public art. 

Muna Al-Bader: Artist at Work

Stop by the UH Arts District November 5th through the 11th to see the artist at work and view progress.

Muna Al-Bader: Mural Timelapse

Watch the progression of Muna Al-Bader’s mural.