About
Yasmin Hayat (b. 1990) is a British–Syrian artist whose practice bridges traditional and contemporary painting. She studied at Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts London) and later specialised in the arts of the SWANA region at the King's Foundation School of Traditional Arts, graduating with distinction in Geometry and Miniature Painting. Drawing on historic Arabic manuscript traditions and integrating Western and Indo-Persian techniques, Hayat has developed a refined visual language through which she explores migration, belonging, heritage, and memory. In 2018, she received the Kairos Prize from His Majesty King Charles III and Professor Keith Critchlow for her contribution to the preservation and renewal of traditional art forms. Her work forms part of the permanent, public collections at the Aga Khan Gallery and the Sarmaya Institute.
Central to Hayat's practice is the creation of pigments that she hand-makes from minerals, plants, and earths. These tactile and luminous colours, carefully selected for their relationship to each subject, result in a dimensional finish that transforms, moves, and reflects, echoing the stories she depicts. She sources raw materials globally and meticulously refines them, crafting a palette unique to every painting
Beyond her studio practice, Yasmin has led workshops and masterclasses at prestigious institutions worldwide, including the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, Watts Gallery, Amateo (The European Network for Cultural Activities), the British Arts Council, the National Trust, the Prince’s Foundation, and the Al Burda Festival in Abu Dhabi. She has collaborated with high-end interior design company Soane Britain and architectural firm Own London, with her work featured throughout the interior of the Michelin Bib Gourmand-recommended Imad’s Syrian Kitchen.
Awards
2018 Kairos Award
2016 Al Bukhary Scholarship.
Solo Exhibitions
2023 Yasmin Hayat: Timeless Vision, Jonathan Cooper Gallery, London.
Permanent, Public Art Collections
Aga Khan Gallery, London.
Sarmaya Arts Foundation.
Group Exhibitions
2025 Mumbai Art Fair
2024 Musawwari: Miniatures Today, Ojas Art, New Delhi
2024 The Quran: Form, Fragrance and Feeling, Aga Khan Gallery, London.
2023 Start Art Fair, Saatchi Gallery, London
2023 Jonathan Cooper: 35 Years, Jonathan Cooper Gallery, London.
2023 Art on a Postcard, Soho Revue Gallery, London.
2022 The Miniature Show, Jonathan Cooper Gallery, London.
2022 Egyptomania, Soane Britain, London.
2022 Spotlight on New Talents, Jonathan Cooper Gallery, London.
2021 Paradise Gardens, Aga Khan Gallery, London.
2019 Yasmin Hayat, Watts Gallery, Guilford.
2019 Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, Mall Galleries, London.
Publications & Press.
2024 Elements by Stephen Ellcock, Thames & Hudson
2024 New Delhi to witness an exhibition on Musawwari artwork, India Times, India.
2022 Living with Art, Veranda Magazine, Issue 5, Volume 36, USA.
2022 Creatives at Home, Home & Gardens Magazine, UK.
2021 British-Syrian Artist Yasmin Hayat’s Meaningful Miniatures. Arab News
2020 Does the Arab World (Still) Exist? Arab World Institute, Paris.
2019 In Her Courtyard: Reflections on Structures of Impermanence, Talin Hazbar, Abu Dhabi.
2018 Featured artist, Google Arts and Culture.
2018 Arab Arts in London: Degree Show Spotlight, Arab British Centre.
Appearances, Collaborations, Clients, Workshops & Partnerships.
UCL, London
William Morris Gallery, London.
Soane Britain, London.
Own London
The British Arts Council
The National Trust
The Aga Khan Gallery, London.
The Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
The British Museum, London.
Imads Syrian Kitchen
Al Burda Festival – The Barakat Trust, UAE.
The Princes Foundation School of Traditional Arts, London.
Amateo Network, Belgium.
The Watts Gallery, Guildford.