Today we’d like to introduce you to Houda Boukba Pierce.
Hi Houda, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a self-taught painter. Since childhood, I have been passionate about drawing and painting women’s portraits. I have always believed that art is the ultimate expression of my feelings and thoughts.
My biggest fear was losing my passion for painting. Therefore, I decided to separate art from my professional career. In 2019, I obtained a master’s degree in International Relations, and I am pursuing a career in international relations.
To inspire women worldwide, I dedicated my first series of 14 paintings called “La femme rebelle” to women’s empowerment. The French title translates to “the rebellious woman.”
At the end of 2019, I had the opportunity to exhibit my paintings on the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” at the UN Compound in Morocco, where I worked back then.
Aside from art, my friend Fosca D`Incau and I co-founded a volunteer-run community celebrating female creators in Morocco. Through our platform, named Maalmarket, we aim to help empower those creators and promote their beautiful creations.
Maalma (Moroccan Arabic) means a woman leader in arts & crafts. In Morocco, this honorary title was traditionally given to a person deemed worthy of teaching or passing a know-how. The term comes from the Arabic word “Alama”: “to teach.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The main challenge I encountered was keeping a balance between my career and my art goals. Having a completely different career often means that I have to prioritize my work commitments. However, the opportunities I had during my career have helped me find a middle ground between both aspects of my life. As an example, I aim to promote gender equality and empower women through my art, and I had the opportunity to work as a gender focal point for my office.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I mainly paint women’s portraits. This is my main passion, and it gives me the opportunity to express my feelings through my characters and always imagine them as a mirror of myself.
I enjoy painting abstract paintings too. The abstract allows me to experiment with different techniques, tools, and colors.
However, most of my paintings are a mixture of portrait and abstract. I love the contrast between the two styles and enjoy introducing different colors and shapes to my paintings.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love living in Cache Valley, Utah. People are cordial, and the mountains still take my breath every day.
As to what I like the least, I could only think of the fact that I have missed the ocean since I grew up in coastal cities.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houda.b.pierce_art/ | https://www.instagram.com/maalmarket/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/houdaboukba1
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