photo by https://market.qacreates.com/artist/may-al-mannai
May Al-Mannai is a self-taught Qatari visual artist and illustrator known for her bold, colourful and surreal compositions that blend digital and traditional painting techniques. Working primarily in mixed media, she experiments with handcrafted watercolours, using historical and modern pigments to create layered textures and intricate patterns.
Driven by the belief that every individual has a purpose, Al-Mannai’s work serves as a dialogue with the world, drawing attention to the beauty in everyday details. She has participated in multiple artist residencies, including the third Artist in Residence programme (2017–2018) and the Artist in Residence Alumni programme (2021) at Fire Station in Doha. Her exhibition history includes Reformulate (al markhiya gallery, Doha, 2021), Glimpse of Nature (Gallery 4, Fire Station, Doha, 2020) and Dual Inspiration (Garage Gallery, Fire Station, Doha, 2018). Her practice continues to evolve as she explores new materials and methods, bridging tradition and contemporary experimentation.