Milwaukee gallerist Nadia Alkhun recognizes how art is embedded in everything

Photo by Ahmed Obeidat, M.D.

Re-established in Greenfield, gallery owner Nadia Alkhun seeks to bring the local community together through art exhibitions, workshops, and community events.

Nadia Alkhun lives by the philosophy that not only is each and every person an artist in their own way, but that art serves as a need – not a want. She owns Nadiana Art Gallery, located at 4818 S 76th St., in Greenfield, which is described as “a place to call home for artistic creations.” Alkhun moved the gallery from downtown Milwaukee to its current home in Greenfield next to Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. Nadiana Art Gallery serves as both a platform for creative expression and a community hub where like-minded folks may connect.

“It is important to recognize how art is embedded into everything we do,” Alkhun affirms. “What you’re wearing is art. How you decorate your house is art. How you plate your food is art. It is not just meant to be hung up on the wall. It is for stress relief and for communicating things that we imagine but can’t always say with words. It is a language for everyone.”

Photos by Cherrie Hanson

Abstract art at Nadiana Art Gallery in the form of paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media pieces.

Alkhun, an artist and biologist, is known for her abstract paintings inspired by microscopic cellular worlds and medicine. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering at Jordan University of Science and Technology in 2007, then later earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Art from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2022.

She moved Nadiana Art Gallery to find a larger, more public-facing space. “It was mostly a small artist studio kind of situation before,” she explains. “I wanted to be where I could have a storefront and do art classes, and where there’s lots of parking spaces for customers. I also wanted to be able to have regular hours; before, I was mostly by appointment.”

The new location opened in early June with the first exhibition receiving great coverage from CBS and TMJ4. Nadiana is one of just a few art galleries in the south Milwaukee suburbs. “It is closer to where a lot of the Muslim community is now,” Alkhun notes. “I just want to serve the community with a space where people can come visit and see art in person for free. It is a good thing to have a gallery in the area.”

Nadia Alkhun, The Water Will Come, 2020, wood, thread & paper coil, 12″x 16″x 8″

Nadiana takes art submissions at no cost. Artists may submit up to five pieces for one show; established, emerging and amateur artists alike are welcome. The gallery has a 35% commission policy for sold pieces.

She acknowledges the significance of having a gallery with an accessible business model. “Most of the artists we feature do not make a living from their art. People want to have art in their houses, so they often go where they can get prints or mass-produced home decor. They will pay for that but won’t pay an extra hundred dollars for an original piece. But if you buy that original piece, you are the only one who has it, and your grandchildren could own it one day.”

Nadiana highlights and celebrates artists battling chronic illness as part of their mission. Additionally, each exhibition donates a portion of proceeds to different local organizations as a way to give back to the community.

TMJ4 Milwaukee Tonight co-host Cassandra McShepherd (center) visited with gallery owners Dr. Ahmed Obeidat (left) and Nadia Alkhun (second from left) prior to its inaugural exhibition “Art and Science Intertwined.”  

The space debuted with the “Colorful Conversation” exhibition, featuring paintings by Alkhun and photography by her husband, Dr. Ahmed Obeidat, in addition to works by artist Paul Ruppa. This show focused on the relationship between art and science, combining abstract imagery and nature photography to reflect biological functions. Ruppa’s paintings showed the evolution of his art before and after his multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

Unveiled on July 26, “Ultimate Abstraction” is the show currently on display at Nadiana. This exhibit features over 80 abstract works from 26 different artists. Simply put, it is a showcase of the world of abstract art.

“There are many ways to be abstract,” Alkhun says. “People are used to representational art, and even when they look at abstract art, they often try to find something that they understand in it. I wanted to open the doors for the community to see art that is beyond representational while displaying different colors, mediums and techniques.”

Nadiana’s next exhibition, “Wisconsin Inspired,” runs from September 13 to October 21 and will highlight art themed around Wisconsin culture. “There will be lots of representational art for this one, which is kind of the opposite side of what you normally see here,” Alkhun mentions. “I am excited for this show.”

Then the gallery’s final exhibition of the year, “Beyond A Theme,” is open from October 25 to December 9. As the title suggests, the show will feature a mixture of artwork not tied to a specific theme as long as everything is family-friendly. Submissions are due by Monday, September 16.

Alkhun also offers art workshops for both kids and adults at Nadiana. Each is up to three hours long and entails participants finishing a painting with guidance from Alkhun. While registration and pre-payment is required, all art materials as well as refreshments are provided. An introductory class to the world of abstraction had been the first workshop at the new space. 

One idea of Alkhun’s is to have a weekly art class for youth where pieces created would be eventually featured for their own show. “It would be an exciting opportunity for kids to experience having their art on display with their name tag up and available for purchase,” she contends.

Ryan Swain, Communication, 2023, acrylic on canvas, 22″ x 18″

Now that she has a larger space, Alkhun plans to open Nadiana up for different social events including banquets, community meetings, poetry nights and film screenings. “We just opened and it will take time and patience, but we want all the neighbors in this area to know that there’s an art gallery and community space here that they can be a part of,” she concludes.

Near Southridge Mall and next to Qamaria Yemeni Coffee, Nadiana Art Galley adds to the social development in the Greenfield area.

Nadiana Art Gallery is open Monday and Wednesday from 1pm to 5pm, Tuesday and Thursday from 11am to 3pm, and Friday from 4pm to 9pm. The gallery may accommodate appointments outside normal hours. Find them on Instagram