Syrian visual artist Mai al-Halwani opened her latest exhibition, “Arteries with Wings”, at the Palace of Culture in Homs on Wednesday, December 18. The show features 40 paintings in her signature expressionist style, combining miniature art and decorative motifs to explore themes of life, freedom, and resilience. Organized by the Union of Visual Artists, the exhibition marks al-Halwani's first in Homs since the city's liberation, with some pieces referencing the Syrian revolution. Half of the proceeds will go to the Syrian Development Fund.
This exhibition matters because it represents a cultural reclamation in a city still recovering from years of war, using art to evoke beauty and resilience amid ongoing hardship. Al-Halwani's work, praised by local artists for its complexity and emotional depth, underscores the role of visual art in processing collective trauma and fostering community healing in post-conflict Syria. The event also highlights the continued vitality of Syria's art scene despite years of upheaval.