sahar sharif

Sahar Sharif | Museum Educator

Born and raised within global mix of cultures, Emirati from Dubai, American and Indian, Sahar Sharif feels she is an Emirati that truly represents the UAE’s love of diversity. She is an Interior Architect and a Museum Specialist.

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Sharif moved to New York City in 2011, on a UAE government fellowship with the Emirates Foundation to pursue a Masters degree in Museum Studies at New York University. Whilst working on a number of independent museum projects, she has been working for Sigmund Balka and the Galleries at Krasdale Foods for the last year, with one of the projects including the proposed Public Mural project called Living the American Dream, in Hunts Point, an underprivileged area of the South Bronx, New York. In New York City, her experienced ranged from learning about museums to quick thinking strategies to dealing with insane landladies, NYC offers it all! She thinks that it was the best learning ground for any Emirati who wants to lead and make a difference.

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Her inspirations for projects can come from anything, even something as random as the shape of a bottle. But if one was to choose “tried-and-tested” inspirations, she would say Colors, people and Pinterest. Besides designing, her free time is spent looking after her first daughter Myra, exploring new art activities, visiting museums, working out and traveling or being outdoors…

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Her specialized professional interest is to help encourage a museum-going culture in places that need one, or for audiences that need more activities. Museums are the stage to foster and revive our cultures, while exhibitions and the educational activity around it are the front stage. One of her mottos is: Appreciate cultural identity, but live globally!

Sahar currently works at the Sharjah Art Foundation, and runs the Disabilities Education program.