From the Familiar to the Fantastical
Your work feels deeply personal and imaginative at the same time. For someone encountering your art for the first time, how would you describe the world you create through your work, and the person behind it?
The world I create through my work is my personal escape, it’s a reflection of how I see things. It’s a place without rules, where my imagination takes over and I can explore freely. It allows me to be playful and experimental, and to reconnect with my childlike sense of curiosity.
You blend photography, collage, and multimedia to create dreamlike compositions. What first drew you to collage as a medium, and how did it become central to your practice?
I was first drawn to collage during my university years, where I discovered Linder Sterling and Lola Dupree. I was fascinated by the idea of completely transforming an image by combining it with another, creating something entirely new from what already exists. It felt almost magical, the way a new narrative could emerge through that process, and that’s when I really understood the power of visual communication.
Many of your pieces feel like fragments of memories or imagined worlds. Do your works usually begin with a story or idea in mind, or do the narratives emerge as you assemble the images?
It’s usually a balance of both. I work in a very instinctive, almost automatic way, letting things flow naturally. My practice is deeply rooted in Surrealism, and a very big part of that is allowing your subconscious to speak. At the same time, I like to revisit each piece repeatedly, refining it to ensure the story and narrative I’m trying to convey comes through.
Nostalgia seems to be a strong thread in your work. Are the memories you explore mainly personal, or do they connect to a broader collective memory tied to Lebanon?
I grew up in Lebanon, so my memories are deeply intertwined with that place. Much of the symbolism in my work is very personal , it reflects my own experiences and identity , but it’s also shaped by Lebanese culture, whether through music, styling, colors, prints, or ideas. For me, it’s about finding a balance between these influences and thoughtfully choosing which elements best serve each project.
Your art often transforms everyday scenes or objects into something surreal. What draws you to these ordinary moments as a starting point for your work?
I find something magical in transforming what might seem like mundane objects and giving them a new life. It’s almost like turning a pumpkin into a carriage, it’s a shift that relies entirely on imagination. For me, it’s about looking at something long enough and moving it beyond what it is, and asking what other reality it could become. We were taught as kids to work with what’s around us and turn it into something whimsical, so it felt natural to carry that into my practice.
There is a sense of playfulness and imagination in many of your compositions. How important is experimentation or humor in the way you approach visual storytelling?
It’s essential to my work, much of it is rooted in escapism. I’m deeply influenced by the Surrealism and Dada movement, artists who challenged and rejected the reality of life after the war, its perspective that has always resonated with me. Humor and experimentation are very essential in my practice, it’s important to play, to try, and to find moments of lightness, even in difficult realities.
In many ways, my work reflects the absurdity of the world we live in.
When someone encounters your work for the first time, what kind of feeling or reflection do you hope it sparks?
I hope my work not only sparks a sense of joy but also inspires people to explore and experiment with imagery in their own way. I want it to encourage curiosity, playfulness, and a willingness to reimagine the familiar.
Stephani Moukhaiber
Stephani Moukhaiber is the founder and CEO of Al Rawiya, a media company amplifying voices from the Levant and its diaspora. She also leads Al Rawiya Studio, the creative and strategic arm of the company, providing branding, content, and media services to clients. In addition, she serves as the Director of Programs and Operations at the 2048 Foundation, overseeing program strategy, communications, grants management, and operational excellence. Originally, Stephani worked as an organizational development consultant specializing in workplace strategy, including roles at global tech and consulting firms.
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
