Naïma Aouni (b. 1987) lives and works in Antwerp, Belgium. She has been painting professionally since 2013. At the young age of 10 years old, Naïma discovered the enjoyment of drawing. Her passion for drawing only intensified a couple years later when she first came in contact with Michelangelo’s drawings.
She recalls the profound influence Michelangelo had on her young impressionable mind. Being pulled in by the gravitas of art, she made up her mind to pursue art more seriously.In her teens, she started scourging the library for art books. Particularly the 17th century piqued her interest.
Being born in Antwerp, having access to masterpieces of Rubens and Van Dyck, fueled her passion further on. It was however at the age of 23 years old, she finally picked up painting.
Naïma Aouni belongs to a group of young painters who, at the beginning of the 21st century is focusing on the continuation of representational art. The artist paints portraits of models of her own choosing, inspired by their individual features that conveys universal emotions. She is also a keen self-portrait artist, in which the reflective nature of the artist comes through.
Her works are in private collections as well as in public ones. Such as University of Antwerp, Provinciehuis of Antwerp, Exeter College of Oxford (UK) and New Salem Museum (USA).
Some notable portraits she is commisoned by Exeter College of Oxford of their Alumni includes former president John Kufuor and Dr. Catherine M. Green OBE. For the Provinciehuis of Antwerp she painted the official portrait of the Gorvernor of Antwerp Cathy Berx.