" Each period of a civilization creates an art that is specific in it and which we will never see reborn. The true work of art is born from the "artist" : a mysterious, enigmatic, and mystical creation.
It detaches itself from him / her, it acquires an autonomous life, becomes a personality, an independent subject, animated with a spiritual breath, the living subject of a real existence of being."

Karima Ben Otman

Born in 1972, Hounslow, England. Of Libyan, Jordanian origin. Her talent was
discovered at an early age by school teachers, granting her a prize for her creativity at the age of eight. In 1981 karima moved with her family to Amman (Jordan), where she continued her high school education.

Art Studies:

1991               Fine Arts at Bishop's University Lennoxville, Canada.
1992-1994     Academy of Fine Arts, Florence, Italy.
1994-1995     Academy of Fine Arts, Bologna, Italy.
1996-1998     Fine Arts Diploma, Academy of fine Arts(Brera)Milan, Italy.

Group Exhibitions:

1993       The Rex Gallery, "Harmony and the Mood" Florence.
1993       Academy of Fine Arts, Annual students exhibition, Florence.
1994       Bologna Art Fair, " End and Over" Bologna.
1994       Glashaus Gallery, " Effetto Serra" Burgkirchen, Germany.
1997       Spazio New Age, " Colour Paradise" Milan, Italy.
1997       Brera, Annual students exhibition, Milan, Italy.
2002       Contemporary Arab artist - Zara Gallery, Amman, Jordan.
2002-2003  Breaking the veils: women artist for Islamic world - Benaki, Museum, Athens, Greece. 
2004       Made in Clerkenwell Summer 2004, London, UK. 

Solo Exhibitions:

1993       Cabiria Cafe', " Faces and Masks" Florence, Italy.
1996       Artist Studio, " Reflections from the past" Limassol, Cyprus.
1997       Spazio New Age, " Me, myself and I" Milan, Italy.
1999       Artist Studio, " Images" Amman, Jordan.
2000       Dar Alanda Gallery," The Face" Amman, Jordan.
2000       Bluefig Cafe', " Solo" Amman, Jordan.
2004      The Evolution of life - 195 kings, Road, London, UK
2004       Retrospective - shell headquarters, London, UK

"I have had the fortune of exposure to diverse cultures. My Arabian origins have given my work a strong line, mainly inspired by Arabic calligraphy, while my childhood in Europe and later my art education, affirm western influence and freedom.
Painting for me is like a breath of fresh air, oxygen runs through my veins like paint runs through my brush.
My ultimate goal is to enrich and inspire as many people as possible with the pleasure and fulfillment  that I find in art".