Nayla Kilzi (b. 1970, Beirut, Lebanon)

Nayla Kilzi is a Lebanese-Canadian visual artist whose passion for art emerged early in life. As a child, she spent countless hours drawing, often sketching faces in the margins of her school notes. On her father’s advice, she pursued computer science, earning her BSc from the University of Montreal. She remained in Montreal for a few years, working before returning to Lebanon in 1997.

After dedicating several years to family life and the family business, Nayla reignited her artistic journey in 2017. She set up her studio and enrolled in various art courses, allowing her lifelong love for painting to flourish once again.

Influenced by artistic heavyweights such as Paul Gauguin, her work is characterized by a bold and rich palette. Nayla paints primarily in acrylics on canvas, occasionally incorporating mixed media. Her recurring theme is the human face – especially profiles – harking back to her childhood sketches. Perhaps echoing her computer science background, she is also intrigued by repetition, exploring this concept by reproducing profiles in varying numbers and proximity across the canvas.

Her Connection series reflects her deeply held philosophy that humanity is intrinsically linked: we intersect, relate, and coexist, however distant or far-reaching these bonds may be. This theme is shaped by her personal journey as a Lebanese who experienced war and resettlement across countries.

Today, Nayla lives between Beirut and Montreal, where her three daughters reside. Her work has been featured in several exhibitions in Lebanon and the UAE.