At Buro247 Middle East, we are committed to showcasing and celebrating the extraordinary talent in the Arab world. With our column, #BuroSpotlights, we bring you stories of pioneering artists, innovative designers, tech trailblazers, cinematic visionaries, sports stars, and more.
This week, #BuroSpotlights Armenian-Syrian collage artist Stephany Sanossian.
If you haven’t heard of Stephany Sanossian yet, it’s time to get acquainted. This Armenian-Syrian creative, currently based in Dubai, has captured eyeballs with her fearless approach to collage and mixed media. Whether it’s printing her art on skateboards, experimenting with handmade marquetry, or diving headfirst into emerging tech like NFTs, she’s unafraid to test new ideas. Armed with a Master’s in Research for Design and Innovation from Elisava in Barcelona, Stephany brings a global perspective to her work, fusing the dynamism of Western pop culture with the layered nuances of her Middle Eastern heritage.
Sanossian’s journey into collage started a decade ago in Barcelona. At first, she experimented with printing her work on paper, but it didn’t feel quite right. That changed in 2020 when she decided to transfer her designs onto skateboards. This shift symbolized her willingness to question traditional boundaries in both art and design.
Sanossian’s name shot into the digital spotlight with two series that caught the attention of Arab News, CNN Arabia, and Step Feed. The first was “MetGala x Damascus,” a playful imagining of how fashion’s biggest red carpet would look if reinterpreted through a Middle Eastern lens. The second, “If Hollywood Movies Were Syrian Productions,” took well-known film posters and gave them a Syrian twist. Both projects resonated so strongly online that they quickly went viral, amplifying Stephany’s voice as a regional trailblazer.
Though trained in digital design, Sanossian has grown increasingly drawn to handmade processes. She’s been working with a craftsman in Damascus to explore marquetry—an intricate woodworking technique—aiming to bring a more tactile element to her collages. It’s a step away from the screen and into the physical realm of materials, one that she believes echoes the younger generation’s growing interest in sustainability and authenticity.
Sanossian believes art should spark dialogue, and her own life experiences—two cultures, multiple languages, different creative avenues—reinforce that perspective. Her collages might look playful, but they’re built on years of artistic exploration, backed by a solid grasp of research and innovation, and fueled by an unshakeable sense of curiosity. She’s proof that stepping outside your comfort zone often leads to the most unexpected and rewarding paths.
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