Randa Hijazi, a Syrian-born artist now living in Laval, Quebec, began her creative journey in Damascus. She completed her degree in Painting at the University of Damascus in 2000, laying the foundation for her career. Eager to expand her perspective, she pursued additional studies in Mass Communication and Science of Media, graduating in 2008. This combination of disciplines provided her with a fresh and multifaceted way of seeing the world, blending the precision of a photojournalist with the expressive depth of a painter.
In 2017, after relocating to Canada, Hijazi pursued new educational opportunities, earning a diploma in business from Career Center College Saint Pius X in Montreal by 2019. Her transition from the Middle East to North America has had a strong impact on her artistic work, as she explores cultural contrasts and shared memories. Her art delves into critical social themes, focusing on injustice, poverty, and humanity’s struggles. She was awarded Artist of the Year in France in 2024 and received the prestigious Golden Medal in Art from Quebec’s Leonardo Da Vinci Gallery in 2023. She has exhibited her work internationally, including in Dubai, Lebanon, France, Canada, and Syria.
In her series Threads of Humanity, Hijazi takes a reflective approach to exploring human connections through surreal pencil-on-paper artworks. The recurring theme of interwoven threads serves as a metaphor for the delicate and often complex ties that bind people together. Through these drawings, she examines the emotional terrain of relationships, touching on trust, love, vulnerability, and betrayal.
Hijazi uses a rich visual vocabulary of recurring symbols such as eyes, hands, and threads to express how humans connect. The detailed pencil work gives a tangible intimacy to each piece, creating a striking blend of fragility and strength. These surreal compositions showcase how interactions shape us, portraying the continuous tension between unity and separation. By weaving together organic and geometric forms, Hijazi captures the balance of harmony and discord that is ever-present in relationships.
The first piece in the collection, Eyes that Bind, captures a quiet yet intense exchange between a man and a woman. Without words, their gazes are locked in a dance of unspoken understanding, moving in a slow, circular rhythm. As they revolve around one another, their connection only deepens, visually represented through fluid pencil lines. The figures seem to blur together, hinting at the emotional gravity that ties them. Their eyes, the focal point of the piece, reveal the depth of emotion that words cannot express.
In Anticipation, the second piece, Hijazi shifts her focus to the tension of waiting. A group of shadowy figures stands at the edge of something unknown, their eyes trained on the distant horizon. There is an uneasy mix of emotions in their stance—hope, fear, and uncertainty—all conveyed through subtle, faceless forms. The minimalism in the figures allows viewers to project their own feelings of anticipation and anxiety onto the artwork. The intricate shading and crosshatching techniques bring the tension of the moment to life, making the unease almost palpable.
Soulmate, the third piece, delves into the intimate, spiritual side of human connection. Two figures, entwined as though they are becoming one, share a silent, profound moment of recognition. Their gazes lock in a way that transcends the physical, representing a deeper connection between souls. Hijazi’s soft, delicate pencil lines capture the tenderness between the two, their bond rendered in a way that feels timeless and serene. Unlike the other works that explore tension or uncertainty, Soulmate offers a sense of peace and understanding.
Throughout the Threads of Humanity collection, Hijazi reveals the nuanced complexities of human relationships. With her choice of pencil as the sole medium, she strips away unnecessary distractions, allowing the raw emotions to take center stage. There’s a purity in the simplicity of black-and-white line work, emphasizing the depth of feeling behind each gesture, each thread. Her art encourages viewers to reflect on the unseen bonds that tie people together—the connections that shape lives in profound and often invisible ways.
By focusing on the quiet, intricate details of human interactions, Hijazi’s Threads of Humanity offers a powerful meditation on the relationships that define us. Her exploration of connection is a universal one, grounded in her cultural background but relatable to all. This series is a reminder of how deeply intertwined we are, often without realizing the extent to which the invisible threads of love, trust, and pain link us to one another.
