Bio
“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained” – Marie Curie
Mariam Nabih was born in the northwest quadrant of Washington, DC to two Moroccan immigrants in the spring of 1990. She was raised as a middle child of three daughters in an estrogen-filled household. Her Marine Corps father encouraged his girls to stay focused on greater goals no matter the challenges. He would refer to the hard labor of her mother’s job to encourage appreciation for the privilege of going to school to make a better life. Getting an education was something her mother was robbed of for being born female in a system that oppressed women. However, there was beauty in her mother’s struggle. She appreciated her mother’s undying commitment to provide, working multiple jobs as a housekeeper, never complaining, and still the most beautiful woman when she smiled. Over time, Mariam grew to be inspired by female figures who were strong, yet beautiful.
In grade school, art was her favorite subject that felt like an extension of recess. Drawing and painting continued to be a source of joy for her through the years; experimenting with colors, shapes, and faces. Without formal education in the arts, she improved her skills the more she drew and taught herself how to fix mistakes with careful attention to detail on the subjects of choice. It wasn’t until she began to appreciate the beauty in her own body that she thoroughly enjoyed re-creating aspects of what she loved most about herself. The curves, soft skin, and elegant God-given proportions of the female body are interesting, captivating, and seductive. In her adult years, sensuality and sexuality became liberating, and the source of inspiration for images of females in semi-erotic poses. Her goal is for the viewer to admire the piece not for its sexual provocation, but for the form’s bold confidence in the absence of restriction.
Currently, Mariam works as a traveling Project Leader for a healthcare company in the US but still finds time to fulfill her passion for the arts. She aspires to become a medical physician and one day present her art in a gallery.