Diala Brisly

I hope that my visual work might stand as a testament someday to the historic events that have unfolded around me and the social issues that have driven the heart of my work. Art is a means to empower people, and several themes have consistently run through all my projects; social justice, freedom for the Syrian people, and a desire in particular to give a voice to children, the most voiceless and most vulnerable among those who have been targeted in Syria’s current turmoil.

Born in Kuwait to Syrian parents in 1980, I grew up in Damascus and was based there until the uprisings sent me and legions of other artists fleeing to Beirut. My artistic and activist work has been based there ever since.

I began as a cartoonist at the Syrian-based Spacetoon channel in 2001, where I received my first training, and soon began as a layout artist for the fledgling cartoon series. Since then, my career has spanned a variety of mediums and capacities, including layout design, animation, concept art, painting, comic books, and character design.

Artistic participation in campaigns and political events has been a driving force for me. The artwork as a participation I did on the Adra Women’s Prison hunger strike campaign helped secure the release of 23 women prisoners. Now I more focus on spot lighting on the education situation of Syrian kids, and refugees in general, in 2014 I started my own initiative making murals in the refugee camps and alternative education centers to encourage kids going back to school after skipping for few years because of the war.