Naso Art Journal is a MENA-focused independent publishing platform with an international outlook, dedicated to documenting, producing, and circulating contemporary artistic and cultural practices from the Arab world across global contexts.
At its core, Naso Art Journal functions as a long-term publishing project and living archive - addressing a critical absence in sustained, independent documentation of Arab artistic production across generations, geographies, and disciplines, while situating this work within broader international cultural and intellectual networks.
The journal also operates as a critical platform through which artistic practices from the region are not only presented, but structurally positioned within global art discourse.
By prioritizing sustained publishing, research-driven writing, and durable cultural objects, Naso contributes to the long-term visibility and institutional legibility of MENA artists, supporting their ability to maintain meaningful and sustainable presence within the international art ecosystem beyond moments of exhibition, market circulation, or cultural trend.
About
Sarah Al-Wazir is a student at AUBH with a strong passion for both art and creative writing. She is deeply interested in storytelling through these mediums, exploring how they allow individuals to express themselves, reflect on personal and cultural experiences, and engage with the world around them. In addition to her studies, she works as a part-time intern at Naso Art Journal, where she primarily supports art historical research and contributes to coverage of news and cultural topics within the arts.
Co-founders
Nayla Al Khalifa & Soraya Durand
Nayla and Soraya are the co-founders of Naso Art Journal, bringing together complementary academic and professional backgrounds in the arts, culture, and international engagement. Nayla holds a background in Anthropology from the London School of Economics and a Master’s degree in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, and has built her professional career in events management in the Kingdom of Bahrain. At Naso, she leads Middle East partnerships and regional activations while contributing to the journal’s editorial direction and strategic vision.
Soraya holds a background in Political Science and Visual Arts from Duke University and has developed her professional experience working with galleries in Paris. She oversees international activations and global collaborations, and plays a central role in shaping Naso’s editorial voice, daily operations, and long-term growth alongside Nayla, fostering a platform dedicated to thoughtful cultural dialogue and global artistic exchange.
Design Lead
Maryam Humood Al Khalifa
Maryam is a graphic designer holding a BA in Graphic Design Communications from Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London. She has five years of experience as a senior designer at Bahrain International Circuit, as well as a personal multi-disciplinary design practice. Maryam has worked with Naso Art Journal from the start to create the brand’s distinctive visual language, and now takes care of all digital and print publication design and management.
Meet The Team
London Correspondent
Shayhana Al Ghareeb
Born and raised in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Shayhana is based in London where she’s currently studying Urban Development Planning at UCL. She previously did her undergraduate studies in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at King’s College London. Outside academia, she spends most of her time fueling her passion for Arab art, music, and literature by attending exhibitions, film screenings, community events, and more. She practices her interests in photography, art, food, memory, and archives is through academic work, courses/workshops, and most recently in a food, politics & art residency in Cairo.
Riyadh Correspondent
Mizuho Yamazaki
Mizuho Yamazaki is a Japanese independent curator, researcher, and writer based in Paris and Riyadh. Through the lens of the Middle East, she is dedicated to amplifying the voices of socially underrepresented communities for cultural decolonization.
Yamazaki has worked in museums in London, New York, Tokyo, and Paris and has curated exhibitions in Tokyo, Paris, and Hong Kong. She has also authored and served as a panelist for a variety of media and events worldwide.
Researcher
Sarah Al-Wazir
Sarah Al-Wazir is a student at AUBH with a strong passion for both art and creative writing. She is deeply interested in storytelling through these mediums, exploring how they allow individuals to express themselves, reflect on personal and cultural experiences, and engage with the world around them. In addition to her studies, she works as a part-time intern at Naso Art Journal, where she primarily supports art historical research and contributes to coverage of news and cultural topics within the arts.
Naso Art Journal is a MENA-focused independent publishing platform with an international outlook, dedicated to documenting, producing, and circulating contemporary artistic and cultural practices from the Arab world across global contexts.
At its core, Naso Art Journal functions as a long-term publishing project and living archive - addressing a critical absence in sustained, independent documentation of Arab artistic production across generations, geographies, and disciplines, while situating this work within broader international cultural and intellectual networks.
The journal also operates as a critical platform through which artistic practices from the region are not only presented, but structurally positioned within global art discourse. By prioritizing sustained publishing, research-driven writing, and durable cultural objects, Naso contributes to the long-term visibility and institutional legibility of MENA artists, supporting their ability to maintain meaningful and sustainable presence within the international art ecosystem beyond moments of exhibition, market circulation, or cultural trend.
About
Meet The Team
Maryam is a graphic designer holding a BA in Graphic Design Communications from Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London.
She has five years of experience as a senior designer at Bahrain International Circuit, as well as a personal multi-disciplinary design practice.
Maryam has worked with Naso Art Journal from the start to create the brand’s distinctive visual language, and now takes care of all digital and print publication design and management.
Design Lead
Maryam Humood Al Khalifa
Mizuho Yamazaki is a Japanese independent curator, researcher, and writer based in Paris and Riyadh. Through the lens of the Middle East, she is dedicated to amplifying the voices of socially underrepresented communities for cultural decolonization.
Yamazaki has worked in museums in London, New York, Tokyo, and Paris and has curated exhibitions in Tokyo, Paris, and Hong Kong. She has also authored and served as a panelist for a variety of media and events worldwide.
Riyadh Correspondent
Mizuho Yamazaki
Born and raised in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Shayhana is based in London where she’s currently studying Urban Development Planning at UCL. She previously did her undergraduate studies in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at King’s College London. Outside academia, she spends most of her time fueling her passion for Arab art, music, and literature by attending exhibitions, film screenings, community events, and more. She practices her interests in photography, art, food, memory, and archives is through academic work, courses/workshops, and most recently in a food, politics & art residency in Cairo.
London Correspondent
Shayhana Al Ghareeb
Researcher
Sarah Al Wazir
Co-founders
Nayla and Soraya are the co-founders of Naso Art Journal, bringing together complementary academic and professional backgrounds in the arts, culture, and international engagement. Nayla holds a background in Anthropology from the London School of Economics and a Master’s degree in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, and has built her professional career in events management in the Kingdom of Bahrain. At Naso, she leads Middle East partnerships and regional activations while contributing to the journal’s editorial direction and strategic vision.
Soraya holds a background in Political Science and Visual Arts from Duke University and has developed her professional experience working with galleries in Paris. She oversees international activations and global collaborations, and plays a central role in shaping Naso’s editorial voice, daily operations, and long-term growth alongside Nayla, fostering a platform dedicated to thoughtful cultural dialogue and global artistic exchange.
Nayla Al Khalifa & Soraya Durand
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