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I am a California artist named Noora Elkoussy, and my journey in the art world has been anything but conventional. My background encompasses international humanitarian work, global public health, nutrition, textile and fashion design—and through all of this, art has remained a constant companion.
Although I hail from a family of artists, I diverged by not majoring in art. Instead, I built a career in international disaster relief and humanitarian aid, residing and working in regions such as Kosovo, Egypt, Tunisia, and Lebanon.
My work involved intimate encounters with individuals facing some of life’s most challenging situations. In Kosovo, I contributed to the expansion of youth centers to accommodate childcare facilities, enabling mothers to acquire vocational skills while their children were cared for. In Lebanon, I oversaw a program delivering psychosocial support to Syrian refugees dealing with sexual and gender-based violence. During the Libyan conflict, I collaborated in Egypt and Tunisia with the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations to provide essential medical care to refugees fleeing Libya. I also traveled annually to South Korea for four years to help select youth for an international leadership program.
These experiences have profoundly influenced my worldview, enriching my appreciation for resilience, human connection, cultural diversity, and the remarkable stories each person carries.
In 2013, a brain tumor and subsequent surgery prevented me from continuing my demanding humanitarian career. This unexpected turn propelled me back to my roots. Over time, my passion for painting and photography shifted from the periphery to the forefront of my creative life, especially towards abstract painting.
Today, I am proudly represented by ArtLifting, an organization that connects the work of artists with disabilities to corporate and commercial clients. My abstract paintings are showcased in private and corporate collections across the United States and internationally.
As my artistic journey unfolds, I continue to balance it with my academic and professional endeavors. Recently, I earned a Master of Science in Nutrition Education, and I remain captivated by the interplay between creativity, resilience, health, and transformation.
Acrylics—vibrant, expressive, and quick-drying—perfectly match my impatient artist's soul as a California artist. I love the freedom of acrylic paint and the ability to build, layer, experiment, and change direction as an abstract painting develops.
Abstract painting is my primary focus, while watercolor and photography provide other avenues for creative exploration. When I paint, I often let my hands lead and my mind follow, embracing the freedom and mystery of not always knowing where a painting will take me.
Photography, particularly street and documentary photography, is another passion of mine as Noora Elkoussy. I am drawn to unguarded moments, human connection, childhood innocence, and the soulful character of the people and places I encounter.
My inspiration as a California artist comes from the world around me—and from within me.
Bold, vibrant colors stir something profound in me and often serve as the starting point for an abstract painting. Images sometimes appear in vivid dreams, arriving before I even know what I want to create. Emotions also find their way onto the canvas. Joy, sorrow, curiosity, frustration, and everything in between can become part of the work.
My years working around the world significantly influence my perspective on people and places. I have witnessed tremendous hardship, but I have also seen extraordinary resilience, generosity, humor, and hope. Those experiences, shaped by my journey, continue to inform how I look at the world and, ultimately, what I create.
Life's challenges are woven into my creative vocabulary. Even chronic pain can fuel transformation, turning something difficult into something meaningful and beautiful.
I am especially drawn to children—their eyes, their smiles, their openness, and their raw innocence. Through photography, I strive to capture those fleeting moments of authenticity and preserve something of the magic that makes childhood so extraordinary, much like in my abstract painting.
As a California artist, my work—including abstract painting—has been exhibited in Southern California and Washington State and is represented nationally by ArtLifting. My paintings are held in private and corporate collections throughout the United States and internationally.
For a complete list of exhibitions, representation, collections, media coverage, and professional experience, please view my Artist CV. There is also a Calendar of Events under the Blog tab, featuring updates on my latest works, including those by Noora Elkoussy.