Recognized within artistic circles as a carefree and spontaneous painter, Shalabiya Ibrahim expresses her approach to her art by stating, "My work is characterized by simplicity and spontaneity... I rely on my imagination, which has developed and evolved over the years... I still perceive it as a magical realm brimming with intricate details and everlasting scenes."
Shalabiya Ibrahim, born in Monufia, Egypt in 1944, is a self-taught artist who began her artistic journey during her teenage years through drawing. Following her marriage to Syrian artist Nazir Nabaa, she received encouragement from him to delve deeper into creating and exhibiting her artwork.
Employing minimal lines and color spaces, Ibrahim primarily works with watercolors. Her artistic expression draws inspiration from her rural upbringing and the mythical tales associated with the Nile river. Her artwork focuses on women as embodiments of the earth, motherhood, reproduction, and renewal. These figures are prominently featured and portrayed with tenderness and a sense of liberated spirit, while the backgrounds often incorporate narrative elements or symbolic objects.
Ibrahim's artistry has been showcased in numerous solo and group exhibitions held across various countries, including Egypt, Germany, Syria, Lebanon, Spain, Tunisia, France, the UK, Kuwait, and Jordan.