Hakim Al-Akel is considered one of the most significant figures in Yemen’s fine arts scene. He has exhibited in over 80 countries and his paintings have sold worldwide. Al-Akel was one of a large group of Yemeni artists who studied fine arts in Moscow in the late 1970s. For 7 years, he studied at the Surikov Institute where he received his first formal artistic training.
He was mentored by pioneering artist Hashem Ali and apprenticed for his studio in 1976. From 1987 to 1994, Al-Akel studied at the Moscow State Academy, where he received a Master’s Degree of Arts, Cum Laude with first-class honours, specializing in frescoes, art history, and concepts of art.
He was mentored by pioneering artist Hashem Ali and apprenticed for his studio in 1976. From 1987 to 1994, Al-Akel studied at the Moscow State Academy, where he received a Master’s Degree of Arts, Cum Laude with first-class honours, specializing in frescoes, art history, and concepts of art.
In 1996, he founded the Syndicate of Plastic Artists with fellow artists and published the first newspaper that specialized in the plastic arts, Tashkeel. He became President of the Yemeni Plastic Artists Union in 1997 and in 1999 he was made Chief Editor of the Tashkeel newspaper. In 2000, Al-Akel devoted himself entirely to painting. Alongside his successful career as an artist, he has held many official positions, including that of advisor to the Yemeni Minister of Culture.