Rawan Al Adwan — Bridging Cultures Through Art
Rawan Al Adwan is a Jordanian-British artist based in Switzerland, celebrated for her evocative paintings and distinctive ceramic works that transcend borders and time. Her art is a poetic fusion of heritage, nature, and modern expression—a harmonious dialogue between the ancient and the contemporary, the East and the West.

Drawing deeply from the cultural richness of Jordan, the creative energy of Britain, and the tranquil beauty of Switzerland, Rawan transforms her multicultural experiences into visual symphonies of color, texture, and emotion. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in Jordan in 1996 and spent seven formative years in London, where she immersed herself in advanced painting and drawing courses that refined her creative voice. Since 2019, she has made Switzerland her home—a space of serenity and inspiration where her artistry continues to flourish.

For more than twenty-five years, Rawan has journeyed to the harsh, rugged landscapes of northeastern Jordan, capturing photographs of ancient rock carvings and inscriptions etched by early Arabian people. These sites—part of our shared global cultural heritage—have profoundly shaped her artistic vision. Through her art, she reinterprets these ancient symbols, breathing contemporary life into their enduring messages of humanity, expression, and belonging.

Working across painting, ceramics, and mixed media, Rawan creates artworks that are both timeless and modern. Her pieces often explore the intersection of humanity and nature, history and identity, memory and imagination. A defining aspect of her practice is her passion for ancient rock art—especially the Safaitic carvings of Jordan—which she contemporizes with a visionary touch.

Her artistic style is instantly recognizable: textured surfaces reminiscent of weathered rock and desert sands, enriched with antique and therapeutic hues that evoke deep emotional resonance. Her paintings are infused with vibrant energy and often feature dynamic, character-like lines that bring a sense of movement and vitality to the canvas. Some of her works carry a subtle sense of humor—an expressive, playful dialogue inspired by Safaitic rock art—that reflects the wit and spontaneity of human expression across time.

Although deeply aware of the classical elements of beauty and design, Rawan often chooses to embrace a spontaneous, even naïve, approach in certain works. This creative freedom allows her to communicate her message with honesty and immediacy—letting intuition lead the way when intellect might restrain the emotional truth of the moment. Her deliberate balance between refinement and raw spontaneity gives her art its distinctive authenticity and soul.

The tactile nature of her paintings invites viewers to engage not only with their eyes but also with their senses—the texture interacts with them so vividly that they feel an irresistible urge to peel back the layers of the canvas, as if uncovering hidden stories and beauty beneath the surface. This physical and emotional connection transforms the act of viewing into an intimate, almost archaeological experience.

Her remarkable contributions to preserving and reimagining Safaitic rock art have been formally recognized by the Ministry of Culture in Jordan, honoring her innovative approach to merging heritage with contemporary aesthetics.

Rawan’s art has been showcased in exhibitions across Jordan, Italy, Austria, London, Washington D.C., the UAE, and Switzerland. Her work and vision have been featured in leading international and regional media, including Bazar Magazine (London), Euronews, Tribune de Genève, The Jordan Times, Al-Ra’i, and Al Jazeera, as well as various other Arab publications and television networks. She is also a proud member of both the Chelsea Art Club in London and the Jordanian Plastic Artists Association.

At the heart of Rawan Al Adwan’s work lies a profound mission: to promote unity and peace through art. Each of her creations celebrates the universal connections between people, cultures, and the natural world. Through her visionary artistry, she reminds us that beauty transcends boundaries, and that the language of art—like love—is shared by all.