Artist Biography
Maisa Mreiwed is a Syrian-Canadian multidisciplinary artist, designer, researcher, and educator based in Canada. She holds a Fashion Design Diploma from LaSalle College, a BA in Religious Studies (now Religions and Cultures), and an MA in Art Education from Concordia University in Montréal.
Deeply passionate about the arts in all its forms, Maisa creates intricate artworks that incorporate signs and symbols to explore thought-provoking themes from both historical and contemporary contexts. She views art as a powerful visual narrative that fosters meaningful connections between people and their environment.
Maisa’s work has been presented nationally and internationally through exhibitions, residencies, public art projects, and academic conferences. She has exhibited at venues such as Forest City Gallery in London, Ontario, the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, and Art à la Carte at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Her public art practice includes contributions to the London Arts Council’s Live Mural Walk Program and Joy, a permanent mural created through the Songlines Project and installed at the South London Community Centre, and Motions and Memories, a permanent installation commissioned for London’s Rapid Transit Public Art Project.
Her temporary public installation The Rag-and-bone Man / Le Chiffonnier was presented during Promenade Parlante: Episodes in a Changing Neighbourhood, part of the Cultural Programming 2018 Conference at Concordia University in Montréal. The project explored neighbourhood histories and community engagement through site-responsive artistic practice.
Her work has also been featured in academic contexts, including presentations at the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), the International Society for Education through Art (InSEA), The European Association for Research in Learning and Instruction (EARLI) and the Canadian Association for Curriculum Studies (CACS).
Maisa further expanded her research and studio practice through an artist residency at the Icelandic Textile Centre in Blönduós, Iceland. In 2022, she received the Arts Integrated Research Award from Lakehead University in recognition of her work inspired by climate change and environmental action. In 2026, she received the Jini Stolk Best of Online Art Fair Award at the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair. She was also selected as one of the Top 100 Artists for ART COMP 2026.
Her most recent publication, “Storytelling through Textiles: The Re-birth of a Phoenix Called Damascus,” appeared in Connections in and through Arts-based Educational Research (2023). Her artwork has also been featured on the cover of Art as an Agent for Social Change (2021), included in the climate action art and research catalogue One Cell, The World (2024), and her artwork Face in the Bloom was published in Bending the Arc Magazine, Edition 3 (2026).
Maisa’s current academic research-creation project, explores how traditional Syrian costumes function as narrative forms serving as living archives of memory, identity, and resilience. Maisa is also interested in the stories and messages that textiles relay before and after being transformed into useable and artistic items. She believes that textiles and traditional costumes are not just passive cultural artifacts but legitimate forms of storytelling that can provide insights, particularly into Syria’s rich and diverse history as well as its present.
Artist Statement
My artwork reflects my personal, academic, and professional journey as a Syrian Canadian multidisciplinary artist, educator, and designer within an interconnected global world. Drawing inspiration from both the tangible realities of my surroundings and the ethereal landscapes of my dreams, my practice explores survival, resilience, and the interconnectedness of humans, nature, and all living beings. Each artwork tells a story through the eyes of different living beings, embedded within layers of geometric patterns, intricate details, and symbolic imagery that invite viewers into a world of exploration and wonder. At the heart of my practice is a message of unity and a call to safeguard our oceans, skies, lands, and all beings for a more promising present and future.
My artistic process is guided by the story, scale, and materials of each work. I primarily work with quill, ink, and acrylics on paper, using black as a dominant colour complemented by gold, copper, and silver. The precision and repetition of each quill stroke allow me to translate subconscious imagery, emotions, and ideas into visual narratives that extend beyond verbal communication. Through this process, I create a space where viewers can engage with the work through their own imagination and interpretation.
Materials are also integral to my practice. I use eco-friendly inks, handmade papers, and recycled papers to reflect my concern for the natural systems represented in my work. These materials embody cycles of growth, decay, renewal, and resilience, reinforcing the connection between artistic practice, humanity, and the environment.
I see art as a powerful form of visual storytelling that encourages reflection, critical thinking, and connection. Every element and symbol is intentional, yet meaning remains open to interpretation. I hope viewers discover something new each time they encounter my work, allowing their own experiences and imagination to become part of the story.
Services
I offer a range of services, including commissioned pieces, custom murals, and art workshops. Contact me to discuss your project or to register for a workshop.