Meet Elaf Hussein

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elaf Hussein and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elaf, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
My end goal is to become an Artist so successful that I can be able to provide oppurtunities to other emerging artists as well. It is difficult when you’re starting out, the art world is so big and can be quite intimidating at times. I would love to become so successful that I can provide amazing opportunities to artists who were once in the same shoes as me. By the end of my career I would like to be a professor and run a gallery or residency program of my own. I feel that teaching art is very important. When you teach you are shaping the minds and skillset of those who wish to learn. You are molding an artist to be the best that they can be so that when they go out into the art world they know how to navigate and most importantly; create.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a 1st generation Iraqi-American multidisciplinary artist, I hold both an Associate degree from Hudson County Community College and a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts from New Jersey City University. In my screen print series, Inflict; I combine comic book-style text and imagery over screen-printed photographs of ISIS-destroyed sites in Mosul—my hometown, which I returned to after 14 years of absence due to conflict and safety issues. Documenting these ruined spaces—once familiar and deeply personal—and compiling over 600 photographs, screen printing them on wood panels and layering them with acrylic marker. I aim to bring visibility to the lasting impacts of war and terrorism.
In my painting series, I engage with global humanitarian issues, shedding light on topics that are often politicized but are fundamentally about human suffering. I use metaphorical imagery to reflect the people affected by these issues, focusing on the emotional and personal impact rather than political agendas. Each piece centers around two key objects or scenes set against solid backgrounds, allowing the visual elements to communicate the weight of the subject matter. Through this approach, I aim to move beyond the political and invite viewers to engage with the humanity behind the issues.
Getting to this point with my work was not easy, in my screen print series, Inflict; I was almost wrongfully arrested in Iraq because I was photographing in public which was allowed, My Film Camera broke down while I was in Iraq, I lost 100 images from 3 rolls of film, and during one of my shows the authorities were called on me because of the type of artwork I was making. It was not an easy road at all. What I learned through all this is that people don’t read and people are so quick to judge and make assumptions when the information is all provided loud and clear to them. I did not need to overcome these challenges, I simply kept going, I can complain about how unfair it all is, instead it is best to just analyze why it happened and move on.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My best friends and I are always going on fun little adventures. First thing I would want to naturally do with them is grab some coffee, hang out and draw at the park or cafe and then go to some museums and gallery hopping. Looking at art is always at the top of our list during any outing, whether it’s a mural or a painting at a museum. Then I’d want to take them out for some Ramen and walk around afterwards.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Friends, Family, Mentors, and Colleagues. I might have taken a different route in life if it had not been for the people who entered and exited my life. My Friends who supported me and encouraged me to keep going even when there were obstacles in my way, My Mentors who helped me become a better Artist and person, My Colleagues who share the struggle of being an Artist and have stayed with me late at night in the studio talking about how we’re going to put our all into becoming artists while we painted, and my Family who stuck by me and gave me space when I was figuring it all out.

Website: https://www.elafhussein.work/

Instagram: @Ella.xxr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaf-hussein-1954532a6/

Other: Email: ElafHHussein@gmail.com

Image Credits
Headshot taken by: Dee Diaz