Nada Odeh is a Syrian artist, activist, humanitarian, and modern-day poet. Born and raised in Damascus, Syria. She is the Founder and Director of Arabesques, a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and promoting Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) art and culture, and the Founder of QuartsX, a creative business that provides specialized art services and innovative solutions for museums, galleries, and cultural institutions.
Nada established her artistic project, Nada’s Picassos, in Damascus before expanding it to Dubai, Michigan, and New York State. Her artwork primarily acrylic paintings and Arabic miniatures is inspired by Middle Eastern colors, ornamental details, memory, and cultural heritage. Much of her work explores themes of displacement, migration, identity, and the experiences of Syrian refugees, particularly displaced Syrian women living in exile.
She holds a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication from Damascus University. She also participated in the Jusoor Scholarship Program’s 100 Syrian Women, 10,000 Lives initiative and has completed workshops in visual arts, communication arts, and therapeutic arts.
Her exhibitions and cultural projects have been presented in Damascus, Dubai, New York City, Detroit, Toledo, Tiffin, Washington, D.C., Syracuse, Albany, Auburn and Buffalo, New York. Through her work with nonprofit and cultural organizations, Nada has developed extensive experience in arts marketing and audience engagement, particularly within small nonprofits and community-based arts organizations. Her work focuses on building meaningful community connections, developing culturally responsive programming, and creating accessible marketing strategies that strengthen storytelling and audience growth in the arts sector. As a freelance curator, Nada has led projects exploring immigration, folklore, and cultural heritage, collaborating with organizations such as the New York Folklore Society to amplify the traditions and voices of immigrant and refugee communities. Through her art, curation, advocacy, and cultural work, she continues to foster dialogue, support artists, and promote cross-cultural understanding.
Photo Credit: Ali Sarraj