BEntrepreneur sat down with multi-hyphenate Amina Al Abbasi to talk about art, jewelry design and the inspiration that allows her to flourish in business and in art.

What inspired you to make the move from working in a bank to starting your own business?

My Art. Ever since I was a little girl, I used to love my art classes. Paint shopping was like going to a candy store for me and I still get the same exact thrill every time I enter one. When I paint, I enter a whole new realm of focus and creativity. Luckily I get to call that my job.

Working at a bank was not what I hoped for, working at a desk in an eight-hour job was not a place where I can unleash my creativity, so I worked on my paintings from home. I started exhibiting my paintings and discovered a whole new world of Art Business, developed a client base, which led me to create my first product line: my paintings printed on phone covers. Amina Gallery started from there. I simply found my dream job and focused on it.

After eight years, we are now a full-fledged art gallery in Seef Mall, with over 30 product lines and Points of Sales (POS) in 5 countries and a new branch on its way.

Business: Please tell us more about Amina Art Gallery and what makes it unique from other art galleries?

Amina Gallery wasn’t created as an adaptation to any business form, it was created purely for the love of art, creativity, fashion and to construct a high-quality gallery that contains paintings not only to be hung on your walls but also to accessorize your home and outfits; says Amina Al Abassi.

We have developed a brand that is noticeable for its uniqueness, reviving Bahraini culture in the most creative ways.

Culture Focus: You always try to incorporate Bahraini and Islamic themes into your work. Why do you think this is important?

My artworks revolve around subjects that inspire me, as Frida Kahlo a renowned artist said, “I am my own muse, the subject I know best, the subject I want to know better”.

You will see women in my paintings, Bahraini gold, and jewelry, culture being transformed into contemporary philosophical concepts and ideas. My goal is to revive our traditions in this contemporary world; says Amina Al Abassi.

Export Quality: Your products are already being distributed in different places, most notably in Harrods, London. What do you think is the potential for future scaling in the export industry of Amina Gallery products?

We focus on product quality and originality and this vision has taken us to places we never dreamed to go to. We have just launched a collaboration with Mattar Jewelers, one of the most elite jewelers in town to create designs of jewelry inspired by those worn by the women in my paintings.

This collaboration may open the door to more collaborations with international designers and brands that could lead to another door towards international markets in the future.

Tips: What advice can you give to art entrepreneurs?

To be original, to have a vision, and never let anyone tell you that you are not good enough because you create your own path to success.

For more information, visit her website.