Born in Sharjah in 1989, Abdalla explores identity, memory and social structures through a multidisciplinary practice informed by theatre, folklore and mythology. Her work frequently features female figures in domestic settings, examining themes of constraint, transformation and liberation while drawing on both Eastern and Western cultural references.
Created in response to this year’s MENART FAIR theme, Where is Home?, Hug My Land reflects on belonging, displacement and the emotional relationship between people and their homeland. Standing approximately one metre tall, the bronze sculpture depicts a woman folded into herself, her arms wrapped around her body in a gesture that suggests both vulnerability and protection.
Initially conceived as an embrace of the land, the work evolved into an exploration of how home can exist within the individual rather than solely as a geographical place.
“This work evokes an almost bodily relationship to the land: what it transmits to us, what we project onto it, and what we continue to carry within us when we move away,” Abdalla said.
The sculpture also evokes the maternal body as a source of shelter, memory and belonging, with the female figure becoming both the person seeking refuge and the refuge itself. The work will form part of a wider series of paintings to be presented at the Boucheron apartment in Paris.
“With the Coup de Cœur Boucheron, we want to celebrate women artists who create without compromise, challenge conventions, and invite us to look at the world differently,” said Poulit-Duquesne. “Maitha Abdalla captures this spirit entirely.”
Founded in 2021 by Laure d’Hauteville, MENART FAIR is dedicated to modern and contemporary art from the Middle East and North Africa, bringing together galleries and artists from the region and its diasporas. Boucheron has partnered with the fair since 2024, sharing its commitment to supporting emerging artistic voices and increasing the visibility of women creators.
The new award builds on the Maison’s wider patronage initiatives, including its partnership with the Yishu 8 arts residency in Beijing, established in 2018, and its support for the Her Art Prize since 2025.
