Upcycled Wonders !

Noof  Al Refaei had a passion for art right from her childhood. She was very much inspired and supported by her father, who is also an artist.

However, with other academic pursuits catching up with her, she had to push the artist in her to the inner realms of the subconscious.

However, after graduating from Law school and working for almost four years in GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre, Noof realised that it was time for her to chase her dream. 

During the time of unrest in Bahrain, Noof felt the need as a Bahraini artist to create her art with upcycling and a lingering message.

Noof said, “I decided to create my art with upcycling as reclamation of the idea that I don’t want anyone harmed in my country. I decided to work with glass bottles and then I eventually expanded my work to coffee tables, book ends and more.”

She added, “Making those glassed bottles into lamps was difficult as I had to ask my friends to get these bottles from villages in order to avoid people from using them as Molotov cocktails.”

Soon after that, she took part many expos in Bahrain and worked hard to improve her skills. 

After a while, she took this creativity a notch higher. She created her own line of furniture and displayed them in events and expos as well.

She even got orders from Bahrain, KSA, UAE, Qatar, making her a talented furniture artist.

She then successfully had her artwork sold in big auctions,  particularly in Christies Auction for two years in a row.  Noof won many prizes for her art line branded ‘Noowood’. Her line of word makes it instantly recognisable for people to associate her with her work of art, which is something Noof as an artist successfully accomplished.

In  December 2015, Noof successfully curated an art exhibition called ‘No Boundaries’ in Malja’s art space as an attempt to embrace all kinds of art. 

She added, “While conducting an exhibition, we have to help artists successfully sell their artwork.”

She said, “My inspiration is simply life. Life inspires me as I see the road, the road signs, small details on the street, and how people are living. When it comes to the message in my art, it is simply love and peace. It is time for artists to cooperate with younger artists and let them grow up beside us.”

Noof is currently focusing on expanding her art brand ‘Noowood’ regionally and internationally.