Born and raised in Dubai, Najat Makki pursued her studies at the College of Fine Arts in Alexandria, later becoming the first Emirati woman to earn a PhD in Fine Arts. A pioneer in sculpture and relief-making in the region, Makki experiments with various materials including plastic, metal and fibreglass. Mediating between visual heritage and contemporary abstraction, her works cultivate a fusion of tradition and modernity centred around the figure of the woman. 

The 1980s mark Makki’s formative years as a sculptor. Captivated by the transformative nature of metal, she welded the material into shifting shapes and contours, often arriving at abstracted female forms. Circles and strong geometries recur throughout her work. The circle, evoking continuity and the renewal of life, is frequently paired with vertical and perpendicular lines that suggest steadfastness and resilience. Makki’s deliberate use of metal reinforces these themes. She allows the material to age and rust over time, a metaphor for the accumulated experiences, strength and burdens women carry as they move through life.