Abdul Qader Al Rais
Abdul Qader Al Rais (Arabic: عبد القادر الريس) is a multi-award-winning, Emirati painter noted for his abstract art which combines geometric shapes with Arabic calligraphy. He is known for including calligraphy and abstracted objects in his paintings, and regarded as a colour master. Al Rais, who was inspired by the Dutch Masters and Impressionists in his earlier work, created a distinctive style that is influenced by the different elements of nature and culture in the region. These elements frequently feature in his works. Early life Al Rais was born in 1951 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. He became interested in painting, at the age of 14, following his father's death, when his mother sent him to Kuwait to live with his sister. He considered himself lucky because Kuwait was having a cultural renaissance at the time and he connected with other artists frequently at Al Marsam Al Hurr, the free studio, where they had access to books on art. Among such books were works on Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, and other Renaissance luminaries that Al Rais regards as his first teachers. Additionally, the Kuwaiti government at the time supported art, so he had free access to all the