About the Artist

Maha was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria. Her education was in French. 

She studied Architecture.

She is married to Dr. Faisal Rifai who is a professor of Civil Engineering. 

They have a daughter & three sons; all are physicians. 

She lived five years in Britain where she obtained The Cambridge Diploma of English Studies. 

Maha moved with her husband, sons and daughter to the United States.  She studied Art and has lived there where she paints. 

Maha has been inspired by the monuments of the Old City of Aleppo. She was also inspired by the historic nature of several locations in Syria, which tell versatile stories of events unique in form and structure. 

In her paintings, Maha uses several styles ranging from impressionism,

surrealism and cubism to abstract. 

Her focus on the nuance in colors and details highlighting a painting composition stems from her architectural background. 

Her paintings portray alleys, covered markets, inner courts of traditional houses, minarets and spires with the Citadel of Aleppo in the background. 

Maha works in a unique style mixed with memory and nostalgia making monuments and landscapes transcend space and time. 

From her artwork, viewers may tell a drama story of the past and present, though the future meaning remains unidentified.