Maryam Alwazzan is Creative Consultant and an Educator with a multidisciplinary background in engineering, interior architecture, art history, historic preservation, and photography. Her work reflects a deep commitment to exploring the intersections of art, design, education, and cultural heritage. With professional experience spanning the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East, Maryam has contributed to the fields of design, teaching, research, and consultancy.
Her academic path includes earning the Gloria Tover Lee Graduate Scholarship in Art History during her M.A. studies at the University of Oregon in 2018. Specializing in contemporary photography from the Arab and Muslim worlds, her research explored how visual storytelling reshapes cultural narratives. As a photographer, her work has been exhibited in London, Sharjah, and Bahrain, while featured in several online publications.
As a previous Research and Strategic Development Specialist at Vastari in London, Maryam worked as part of a team handling annual report surveys and collaborations with museums and curators globally in order to enhance exhibitions by connecting institutions with private collections. Upon returning to Kuwait, she founded her consulting company M.W. Creative, providing government sector entities such as the National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature and other private sector businesses with creative consulting services focusing on strategic brand manuals, creative direction, artistic programming of historical buildings, and training. Her curatorial projects include the Kuwait Design Hub exhibition at the Doha Design Biennale 2024, alongside other initiatives showcasing regional art and design.
As an educator, Maryam has focused on creating engaging learning environments during her tenure as Part-Time Faculty at the American University of Kuwait (AUK). She taught Art History and Arabic Calligraphy courses, employing innovative teaching strategies to foster critical thinking, visual analysis, and a deeper understanding of the region’s cultural heritage. In 2022, she organized the History in Objects symposium hosted at Dar al-Athar al-Islamiya at the American Cultural Center, where students presented research on Arab and Islamic objects from Al Fan Exhibition showcasing Al Sabah collection. In this experience students were able to actively connect their academic learning to real-world applications.
Beyond academia, Maryam has provided mentorship and guidance to creatives at various stages of their careers. She has conducted workshops and masterclasses, such as those with Artist Residency at Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Center in Kuwait, Liwan Design Studios in Doha and Tasweer Photo Festival by Qatar Museums, helping artists refine their narratives and develop professional portfolios. Her work bridges tradition and innovation, with a focus on supporting creatives in building sustainable careers.
Through her research, teaching, and consultancy work, Maryam strives to connect the artistic and cultural heritage of the Arab and Islamic world with contemporary practices, fostering a deeper appreciation for the region’s creative history while inspiring future generations.
