Latifa Saeed is an Emirati visual artist, designer, and innovator whose multidisciplinary practice spans visual art, graphic design, and product design. Her experimental approach to both concept and material is evident in her work, which often explore themes of memory, identity, and the interplay between past and present. Saeed
employs a variety of mediums, including sand and glass, to create sculptures and complex installations that reflect her personal experiences and the broader cultural
narratives of the United Arab Emirates. Her pieces resonate with a deep sense of place and heritage.

Saeed’s art is profoundly influenced by the rapid societal and cultural transformations in the UAE. She observes and records changes in language, topography, urban landscapes, and scenery, critically reflecting on these elements to narrate metaphorical contemplations of contemporary times. By visualizing inherited knowledge as part of the ongoing present, she dynamically engages with the past,
continually challenging and manipulating traditional materials and techniques.

In “The Pathway” (2021), Latifa Saeed explores the social terrain by focusing on gaps within the urban landscape. The pavement brick, a fundamental construction element and a point of contact between inhabitants and their environment, becomes central to her exploration. Through meticulous selection, molding, casting, and placement, she
recreates this basic shape in glass, drawing attention to the often-overlooked structures mediating our interaction with our surroundings. Her work highlights the
delicate balance between construction and the fluidity of space, encouraging viewers to reconsider their fundamental relationship with their environment.

Another significant research project, “The Archive” (2022), delves into memory and preservation. Saeed has collected sand samples from 180 different sites across the
UAE, which are carefully shelved in laboratory-grade vestibules. Each sample is cataloged with its GPS location and imagery of the collection site. Displayed as a library
of living archives on metal tables, this installation serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage amidst rapid modernization.