nabila hilmi

I was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Egypt, went to college in Lebanon where I studied and worked for twenty years (including nine years of civil war), and then lived in Amman, Jordan for two years before settling in the US. I have lived in Washington, Baltimore, New York, and have been in Villanova, Pennsylvania since 1991.

I have been a professional artist since 1984. Art however has been my hobby since childhood. Having attended French schools and colleges, I was familiar since adolescence with French Impressionists as well as with many European Artists. I wanted to study Art but followed my family’s advice and obtained a law degree instead, entering a profession that, compared to art, would allow me to make a better living. I worked in a law firm then in a business corporation for a few years before deciding to follow my heart, go back to Art School, get my BA in Fine Arts, and become a professional artist. I also have studied several years at the Students Art League in New York and, in 1994, completed the three-year program of the Barnes Foundation.

Creative drive:
I always work from Nature. Whether it is a landscape, a figure or a simple flower, I need to be moved by my subject. I do not always know what exactly moves me, what is the idea that triggered my interest. I sketch the subject over and over. I line up the sketches and live with them for a while. The idea then emerges by itself and imposes itself.

Key emotion represented in work:
Togetherness, closeness, warmth, openness, beauty… the unbelievable nuances in nature and people’s lives and in their relationship.

I am not sure if I have any unique process. However, I like to use the medium that fits best my mood and feelings of the moment. When I moved to the US, I felt the need to work with oil on large canvases… the country was overwhelmingly vast. Later, I wanted to get in closer touch with myself. Small monotypes fit my purpose. After September 11, I could only work with ink on large horizontal sheets of paper. Today color is reappearing in my work. I love to work with all kind of mediums and to explore their different possibilities. I particularly enjoy mixed mediums on paper.

Personal relationship with your work:
My work is vital to me. It gives me a purpose. It brings me light and hope. My work allows me to learn. I learn to see, to observe, to tune and sensitize my vision, to reflect and to express my feelings. It also helps me connect, relate, share, grow roots and be part of this world. My work allows me also to follow my dreams and mix reality with fantasy and illusion. I feel fortunate that I love what I do.

Sharing art opens my eyes to the diversity in people’s feelings and their needs. It helps me connect better with others. It makes my life richer and deeper. It also enriches my understanding of my own work by exploring with others their understanding of it.





"I came to realize that, wherever we are, we constantly carry our home with us, whether we live in it or away from it." -Nabila Hilmi		Nabila Hilmi View Nabila's Work I was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Egypt, went to college in Lebanon where I studied and worked for twenty years (including nine years of civil war), and then lived in Amman, Jordan for two years before settling in the US. I have lived in Washington, Baltimore, New York, and have been in Villanova, Pennsylvania since 1991. I have been a professional artist since 1984. Art however has been my hobby since childhood. Having attended French schools and colleges, I was familiar since adolescence with French Impressionists as well as with many European Artists. I wanted to study Art but followed my family’s advice and obtained a law degree instead, entering a profession that, compared to art, would allow me to make a better living. I worked in a law firm then in a business corporation for a few years before deciding to follow my heart, go back to Art School, get my BA in Fine Arts, and become a professional artist. I also have studied several years at the Students Art League in New York and, in 1994, completed the three-year program of the Barnes Foundation. Creative drive: I always work from Nature. Whether it is a landscape, a figure or a simple flower, I need to be moved by my subject. I do not always know what exactly moves me, what is the idea that triggered my interest. I sketch the subject over and over. I line up the sketches and live with them for a while. The idea then emerges by itself and imposes itself. Key emotion represented in work: Togetherness, closeness, warmth, openness, beauty… the unbelievable nuances in nature and people’s lives and in their relationship. What is unique about your process: I am not sure if I have any unique process. However, I like to use the medium that fits best my mood and feelings of the moment. When I moved to the US, I felt the need to work with oil on large canvases… the country was overwhelmingly vast. Later, I wanted to get in closer touch with myself. Small monotypes fit my purpose. After September 11, I could only work with ink on large horizontal sheets of paper. Today color is reappearing in my work. I love to work with all kind of mediums and to explore their different possibilities. I particularly enjoy mixed mediums on paper. Personal relationship with your work: My work is vital to me. It gives me a purpose. It brings me light and hope. My work allows me to learn. I learn to see, to observe, to tune and sensitize my vision, to reflect and to express my feelings. It also helps me connect, relate, share, grow roots and be part of this world. My work allows me also to follow my dreams and mix reality with fantasy and illusion. I feel fortunate that I love what I do. Thoughts on sharing art: Sharing art opens my eyes to the diversity in people’s feelings and their needs. It helps me connect better with others. It makes my life richer and deeper. It also enriches my understanding of my own work by exploring with others their understanding of it. Back to Meet the Artists

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