Nancy Makhoul

I have been painting for as long as I can remember. Before words, before architecture, before understanding what art meant, there was simply the instinct to draw.

My work is driven by moments that leave an imprint on me for only seconds: a fluttering wing, sunlight dissolving into water, the blur of people crossing a living city. I am fascinated by the fragile poetry of ordinary moments and the way light can transform something familiar into something unforgettable.

I work across watercolor, oils, graphite, and portraiture, each medium teaching me something different about control, vulnerability, and expression. Watercolor both intimidates and excites me because it refuses complete control. It moves, blooms, escapes intention. Oil painting allows me to build atmosphere through impressionistic strokes and texture, while graphite gives me the quiet precision needed to capture emotion and human presence.

As an architect, I naturally observe structure, rhythm, and composition. As an artist, I search for feeling within them. My paintings are less about recreating a scene exactly as it appears and more about preserving the sensation of experiencing it.

I want my work to feel alive, breathing, fleeting, and deeply human, like a memory...

MArch, ASU
B.Arch, QU

FIFA World Cup Public Art Exhibition | Doha Corniche | 2022
Commissioned by Ashghal to create 28 paintings displayed within a special public tunnel installation during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The exhibition transformed the pedestrian space into an immersive artistic journey celebrating culture, movement, and visual storytelling during one of the world’s largest international events.

Museum of Islamic Art Pedestrian Tunnel Installation | Doha | 2022
Commissioned by Ashghal to produce 7 original paintings permanently displayed within the pedestrian tunnel surrounding the Museum of Islamic Art. The works were created to enrich the public urban experience through art inspired by atmosphere, heritage, and contemporary visual expression.

Katara Art Center Exhibition | 2017
Participated in a collective exhibition at Katara Art Center, presenting original artworks exploring light, movement, and emotional storytelling through traditional media.

Inktober Gallery Exhibition, Al Jazeera Café | 2015
Exhibited a series of ink illustrations created during the Inktober challenge, focusing on expressive line work, atmosphere, and narrative-driven sketches.