Khalid Shafar
Born in Place, 12/12/2023
Lives and work in Um A Quwain (UAE)
Khalid Shafar
Biography Born in 1980 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. As a business graduate of the American University in Dubai Khalid worked in marketing and communication for almost seven years. In 2005 Khalid completed a degree in Fine Arts in Interior Design and by the end of 2009 had decided to leave marketing and follow his passion for design. Khalid has studied and specialized in Furniture & Objects design, first at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, UK, then at the Centre for Fine Woodworking in Nelson, New Zealand. In 2011 Khalid opened his own studio in Dubai followed by a showcase space in 2012; both in Ras Al Khor Industrial area. Khalid’s approach to design encompasses his personal expression of form, movement, emotion, and in particular, ‘the tale’ of objects. Among his notable international collaborations, Khalid collaborated with LASVIT, Tai Ping, Campana Brothers, Moissonnier, COS, Kartell, and the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) on special projects and limited edition releases. He also collaborated recently with Le Mobilier National et les manufactures nationales des Gobelins, de Beauvais et de la Savonnerie on a site specific Art installation for Louver Abu Dhabi Museum.
Artist Statement “For me, the realm of Art & Design meets at the expression and aesthetic of the object rather than its process. While Art translates the individual’s expressions through a specific format, Design acts sometime as a problem solver and in others as an enhancer. It is there to put things in particular functions. Design doesn’t only focus on the aesthetic side of an object; it studies the functionality and practicality of it. A good design for me is a design that combines my ethos: Creativity, Functionality, and Practicality.”
