Cover Lines
When Qatari artist Fatima Alsharshani began blending the almost sculptural forms of Arabic calligraphy with the energy of modern street art more than a decade ago, she knew she was on to something. She dubbed her approach “calligraffiti”.
She has since gone on to paint murals in Qatar and the US, and to collaborate with partners including Qatar Museums, Adidas, Paris Saint-Germain football club and Clown Skateboards. Now she has provided the striking cover of this magazine (pictured above). “My work is about bridging cultures,” she says. “Even if people don’t understand the Arabic language, they can discover the beauty of the letters through my work.”
Alsharshani began her journey in 2011, when she took workshops in some of the many distinctive styles of Arabic calligraphy. As she began to explore ways to blend classic and modern forms, she developed her own style. In 2020 she won a competition held by Qatari arts organisation Jedariart to paint a mural in Doha’s Post Office Park. The following year she was invited to Portland, Oregon, as part of the Qatar-USA Year of Culture. The artwork she created there, The Never Ending You, consists of a continuous circle of Arabic letters that represents the endless flow of life. It took two weeks to complete, with the assistance of Portland artist Sarah Farahat. “After I painted that mural there was an explosion of interest in my work,” she says. “I had so many amazing opportunities.”
In 2022 Alsharshani completed a 1,000m-long mural in an underpass in Qatar, and Adidas approached her to develop an Arabic-language identity for its clothing line to celebrate the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The following year she collaborated with Paris Saint-Germain FC and Clown Skateboards on a collection of boards and clothing, and in 2024 she took part in the design exhibition Ektashif: Morocco at the Museum of Islamic Art as part of the Qatar-Morocco Year of Culture. This year she again partnered with Paris Saint-Germain to create Arabic lettering for the team’s shirts at the Champions Trophy final.
“Even if people don’t understand the Arabic language, they can discover the beauty of the letters through my work”
“These experiences opened my eyes to new possibilities,” she says. “Before, I was only focused on Arabic calligraphy on paper, canvas or traditional mediums. But my involvement in these collaborations pushed me to explore different angles and made me realise that my art could be appreciated in new ways.”
Alongside her artwork, Alsharshani has founded Qaif, a company that offers specialised calligraphy services. A recent collaboration with Qatari gift brand Dalu, for example, saw her work adorn everything from notebooks and gift cards to ceramics and textiles.
What has remained constant throughout Alsharshani’s impressively diverse output is her conviction that art is a universal language that has the power to transcend borders and forge new connections between people.
From the walls of Doha to the stadiums of Paris, Alsharshani’s calligraffiti is a powerful reminder that beauty can be legible to everyone. “I not only represent my country, but my language, culture and heritage through my calligraphy,” she says.
