The Healing Power of Art

Aida Murad is an Arab NYC based Intuitive Artist whose mission is to help people feel seen, heard and loved through art. She paints with her fingers due to a past trauma. She became an Artist because she had Rheumatoid Arthritis. They say the darker the shadow the brighter the light. Her Rheumatoid Arthritis was her shadow. Her art is her light and serves as a light for others. When she was 20 years old, she was diagnosed with her shadow and, subsequently, semi paralyzed for 4.5 years. When she was in a place of suffering, she turned to art to help her heal. However, she didn’t paint with paint brushes, she painted only with her hands to demonstrate to herself and to the world that she is not damaged, and this dysmorphia will not define her. Today, Aida combines her expertise as a Reiki master, Inuitive, Coach and Artist to create fine art by painting with her fingers to both beautify people's physical spaces and bring healing (each art piece is infused with reiki). As of May 2022, Aida has sold out 10 collections and has been featured in 21 exhibitions. Her work has been featured globally including in Voice of America, Reuters, TRT World, Al Jazeera, and the United Nations. She is named as the 2022 Georgetown University Artist in Residence to create healing art for the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. She has also collaborated with Grammy Award winning artists including the drummer from The Doors, John Densmore, to use art for social good. Her paintings have been acquired globally including by the previous Deputy Minister of Culture of the U.A.E, Qatar America Institute for Culture, Board Member of the National Museum of Mexican Art and the previous Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights under Obama's administration at a historical landmark in Chicago. She is a BMW Foundation Leader and has received numerous awards for women in impact. As an Arab and previously disabled individual, Aida hopes to open increased pathways for more minorities and differently abled individuals to enter the arts as well as use art for nature conservation and climate change awareness.