Fortuna by Samar Kamel, Egypt, 2023 (120 x 120)

From the Origami series and inspired by Greek mythology, this piece draws from the Roman goddess Fortuna, traditionally depicted blindfolded and turning a great wheel to symbolize the ever-changing nature of luck and fortune. Fortuna embodies the shifts in human destiny, a concept that has inspired poets and musicians for centuries. In the 13th century, the priests of the Goliards penned verses about her, which later influenced Carl Orff’s timeless masterpiece, Carmina Burana. Samar Kamel, an accomplished Egyptian artist and author, has served as the World Art Dubai Curator since 2019. She holds a curatorial certification from the Sotheby’s Institute of Art. In 2019, she earned Maliha’s Award for Short Story Writing in Sharjah. Kamel’s artwork focuses on challenging cultural perceptions of women, using vibrant imagery to redefine stereotypes and celebrate modern femininity. With a portfolio spanning over 80 international art exhibitions and fairs, her work has been showcased in cities such as New York, Tokyo, Barcelona, Miami, Venice, Amsterdam, Oxford, and across the UAE, as well as in Egypt, Oman, China, Belgium, and Brazil. Notably, her art is part of the permanent collection at Turkey’s Bursa Museum of Immigration History. Renowned for her unique use of tea bags in her creative process, Kamel was also nominated for the Emirates Woman of the Year 2018 award in the Art and Culture category, recognizing her contributions to the art world and community.