Frédéric Malle has commissioned three Middle Eastern female photographers and their interpretations of 'Portrait of a Lady', celebrating the fusion of art, design and fragrance in a unique pop-up concept.

Frédéric Malle is showcasing three Middle Eastern female photographers and their interpretation of 'Portrait of a Lady'. This is associated to one of the most iconic hero fragrances of the brand. The photographers in focus will be well known Middle Eastern talents Malak Kabbani, Amina Zaher and Hayat Osama. The artists’ work will be showcased in a customized pop-up concept from the brand, highlighting the unique portraits in juxtaposition of Frederic’s iconic brand cues and affinity towards art and design.

Frédéric Malle has always had a personal affinity towards art and design, being a trained art historian himself. Frédéric Malle collaborates with each photographer in the same way he does with perfumers, with an approach grounded in mutual respect and total creative freedom. For Frédéric Malle every work of art acts like an emitter of the energy of its creator at the moment they made it. And this is what makes art so desirable to the collector. The art that surrounds us has the capacity to communicate that energy to us, and therefore to lift us, even to make us better people. If art has this ability to diffuse its energy through us, so do perfumes. Malle believes that this is what explains the startling and continued success of certain perfumes by Dominique Ropion such as the icon PORTRAIT OF A LADY. This capacity to create wonder comes from the fact that they succeed in encapsulating the creative energy of the perfumer.

About the Artists:

Malak Kabbani

Malak is an Egyptian/German photographer living and working in London. Born in 1993 in Cairo, Malak moved to London to pursue her studies in fine arts at Central Saint Martins. With her background originating in painting, she eventually pursued photography as a quicker visual language. Her work focuses heavily on people, be it within portraiture, fashion or documentary. Building a relationship with her sitters is at the core of her practice.

Amina Zaher

Amina Zaher is a Fashion photographer born in Egypt. She took her first steps in photography at the New York Film Academy back in 2014. Her work has been published in several magazines worldwide like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ Magazine and others.

Hayat Osamah

Hayat Osamah is a Middle – Eastern multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker whos’ dedication to visual storytelling has garnered widespread recognition for its innovation and emotional depth. She has become known for her unique ability to challenge conventional norms and celebrate diversity through her work. Hayat’s exceptional artistic achievements include receiving the GQ Middle East Breakthrough Artist of the Year award in 2020. Her photography has been featured in several publications such as Vogue, WWD, and Harper’s Bazaar, among many others.