Sometimes people find each other through art — long before they ever meet in person. That was the case with Mirjam Collor and Lilli Ismailat, two women whose life paths could hardly be more different, yet who share a common artistic language. Their collaboration became particularly visible when they exhibited together at the celebrations of the German Embassy in Abu Dhabi on the occasion of German Unity Day 2025. Their works touched visitors not only visually, but also emotionally — shaped by themes such as openness, cultural connection and life within the inspiring diversity of the United Arab Emirates.
Out of this collaboration grew a bond that goes far beyond a shared project.
Mirjam Collor – The Art of Living Freedom
The German artist Mirjam Collor, now based in Abu Dhabi, learned early on to understand the world through color. Art was introduced to her by a family member — herself an established artist — and became a natural part of her life from childhood. Alongside her work as a children’s therapist, she developed her artistic identity over more than two decades before deepening her education at the Free Academy of Painting and Graphic Arts in Düsseldorf.
Her life took a decisive turn when she moved to the UAE with her family. While her husband pursued new professional paths, Mirjam followed her inner calling and chose to make art her sole profession. It was a courageous step: leaving behind a secure career, letting go of the stability of a fixed income and fully surrendering to the intuitive power of creativity. Yet this very decision gifted her a sense of peace, freedom and self-determination that is reflected in every one of her works today.
Mirjam’s abstract art is shaped by her love for people, culture and nature. She works intuitively, allowing colors to flow, forms to emerge and giving her paintings the space to tell their own stories. Her collectors value not only her art — they value the encounter with her. Conversations, laughter, genuine connection. Mirjam creates spaces where art is allowed to be light, does not need to be analyzed and where everyone is welcome.
In her private life, Mirjam finds balance in nature, together with her husband and her sons. These moments of stillness and connection shape her inner world — and thus her art. In five or ten years, she sees herself still standing in front of the canvas — exploring, growing and always searching for new forms of expression and an even broader international audience.
Lilli Ismailat – Art as a Language
Lilli Ismailat has been working as an artist and educator in the UAE for more than 13 years — a combination that shapes her life just as much as her art. Raised in a highly creative, artistic family, she spent countless hours in studios and workshops already as a child and teenager.
What others have to learn was always a natural space for her. She studied art, German, ethics, politics, Islam and Arabic in Germany and Austria, and after completing her studies, worked for two years in Singapore before moving to Abu Dhabi. Since 2013, she has been heading the art department at the German International School, where she teaches primarily art, German and ethics.
Lilli Ismailat – art is life and life is art
Lilli’s artistic work is as diverse as her professional path: abstract painting, illustration, sculpture, digital art, children’s book development, workshops, international competitions, and cultural collaborations with embassies and institutions. She moves effortlessly where art, education and culture intersect — and feels completely at home there.
Her art is characterized by authenticity, playfulness and emotional depth. She loves sharing her passion for art with people, helping them overcome fears and creating spaces that are open, courageous, free and accessible. Her style is unmistakable: wild, playful, honest — always carried by deep cultural and human sensitivity and passion.
Especially formative for her were moments such as participating in EXPO 2020, winning the international Buddy Bear design competition, collaborations with Emirati artists and workshops at Zayed University Abu Dhabi. Yet just as important are the quiet moments: conversations with her students, the gaze of a viewer, late-night hours in her small studio while her two daughters sleep and Lilli works with full dedication on a piece — sometimes for weeks, until it truly feels “complete.”
In the coming years, she envisions herself in a larger studio, embedded in international collaborations, exhibiting worldwide, perhaps even publishing new books and working with her students on major projects. What drives her is the vision that art means life — and is a universal language that connects people across cultures.
Two Women, Two Stories – and One Shared Heartbeat
What connects Mirjam and Lilli is not only their art. It is their attitude: openness.
Authenticity. A love for people. The desire to build bridges through their work.
Both have found not only a home in the UAE, but also a place of inspiration. And their joint exhibition on German Unity Day was an expression of this connection — two artists who grow, learn and inspire each in her own way, yet always with a shared inner resonance. The exceptionally talented German artists Lilli Ismailat and Mirjam Collor captivated audiences with their inspiring exhibition at the reception of the German Embassy. Their works powerfully captured the creative dialogue between German and Emirati perspectives and addressed openness, encounter and cultural exchange.
A special highlight of the exhibition was the collective collaborative art project “Yalla Art Piece,” initiated by Lilli Ismailat, in which guests were invited to contribute their own thoughts and creative impulses. The result was a vibrant community artwork reflecting the spirit of togetherness. The exhibition became a wonderful experience of shared creative expression, artistic passion, inspiration and human connection.
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