Born in the US to Lebanese parents and raised in both Kuwait and Lebanon, illustrator Nourie Flayhan finds it strange to say she’s from one country. Her work depicts women of color with warmth and nuance—and a little bit of fantasy, too. What’s particularly remarkable about her subjects, rendered with fluid lines and pops of color, is their piercing eyes: Pupils are small as dots or completely absent, and a single face can possess as many as four pairs. This repetition symbolizes the different selves we show to the world in different environments and situations. Nourie has brought her created work for Gucci, Kiehl’s, and the Recording Academy, and hopes that women and younger girls can connect with on an emotional level.
