Hidden between cascading streaks of pink and green, the outlines of architectural turrets and spires become apparent in the composition. Diana Al-Hadid’s architectural forms meld Islamic and Western influences, referencing decorative Islamic architecture as well as Western minimalist design. Born in Aleppo, Syria, she moved to Ohio at the age of five. In her work she attempts to reconcile her personal history of growing up in a Muslim household in suburban America. When making art, she finds that each “side” of her cultural upbringing “wins arguments along the way” as she can identify areas of her work where minimalist design principles or decorative Islamic features have overtaken and dictated the form. Fusing elements of her dual cultures, Al-Hadid deconstructs the notion that a person must ascribe to only one cultural identity. Through her varied aesthetic vocabulary she shows how they can coexist.

From the exhibition: We Will Control the Vertical (August 20 – December 4, 2016)