Randa Hijazi, a Syrian Canadian artist now residing in Laval, Quebec, began her journey in Damascus. Her artistic roots took hold when she earned her degree in Painting from the University of Damascus in 2000. She later expanded her knowledge, graduating in 2008 from the Faculty of Mass Communication and Science of Media, which gave her an insightful, multidisciplinary view of the world around her. This fusion of visual arts and media sharpened her ability to capture life with the precision of a photojournalist while creating art that speaks to deeper emotional truths.
After settling in Canada in 2017, Hijazi sought to further her skills, obtaining a diploma in business from Montreal’s Career Center College Saint Pius X in 2019. Her experiences migrating from the Middle East to North America have deeply influenced her work, as she navigates themes of cultural overlap and collective memory. Her paintings touch on profound human issues like poverty and injustice. Randa’s impressive list of accolades includes being named Artist of the Year in France in 2024 and receiving the Golden Medal in Art from the Leonardo Da Vinci Gallery in Quebec in 2023. She has showcased her work across the globe, including in Dubai, Lebanon, France, and Canada.
Hijazi’s Threads of Humanity series is a contemplative exploration of human relationships through surreal, pencil-on-paper drawings. The collection reflects the way human connections are both fragile and enduring, often symbolized by the threads that weave us together. These works focus on the emotional landscapes of love, trust, vulnerability, and betrayal, and how these forces intertwine.
In this series, Hijazi emphasizes recurring symbols—eyes, hands, and threads—each representing aspects of human connection. The pencil medium allows for intricate detailing, which enhances the viewer’s sense of intimacy with the subject. Through this delicate yet powerful art form, the pieces reveal how interactions shape us, how we connect and disconnect, and the ongoing tension between unity and isolation. The interplay of organic shapes and structured geometries within her work reflects the duality found in relationships—themes of harmony and discord that persist.
The first piece in the series, Eyes that Bind, features a man and a woman engaged in a wordless exchange. They circle each other in a quiet, deliberate dance, their gazes locked, expressing a depth of connection beyond verbal communication. The figures seem to move in unison, suggesting an emotional bond that grows stronger as they orbit each other. Hijazi’s pencil work gives their forms a fluidity that blurs the boundary between them, symbolizing how love and devotion create an unbreakable connection between individuals.
Anticipation, the second artwork, shifts the focus to a group of figures waiting with apprehension, their eyes turned toward something unseen on the horizon. Hijazi captures the tension of expectation in this piece—the hope, anxiety, and fear that accompany the unknown. The faceless figures allow viewers to project their own emotions onto the scene, making the anticipation feel both personal and universal. The detailed shading and crosshatching create a tactile depth, drawing the viewer into the heightened emotion of the moment.
In the third piece, Soulmate, Hijazi presents two figures entwined in an intimate connection that transcends the physical. The delicate pencil lines and soft shading in their forms reflect the tenderness of their bond. Their eyes meet in a moment of mutual recognition, as if they’ve found a reflection of themselves in each other. This work delves into the spiritual aspect of human connection, where two souls become intertwined in ways that defy logic or time.
Across the Threads of Humanity collection, Hijazi demonstrates her ability to reveal the complexity and nuance of human relationships. Through the simplicity of pencil on paper, she conveys a richness of emotion and meaning that goes beyond the surface. The subtle textures and shadows in each drawing invite the viewer to reflect on the bonds that hold us together, as well as the forces that drive us apart. Her meticulous attention to detail creates layers of depth, each line telling part of the story of human connection.
By focusing on pencil as her medium, Hijazi strips away distractions, allowing the raw essence of these relationships to emerge. There is no reliance on color or dramatic effects—just the purity of form and the depth of emotion, captured through precise line work. Threads of Humanity asks viewers to pause and consider the profound ways in which we impact one another, often in ways we cannot see or fully comprehend.
Randa Hijazi’s work continues to be an exploration of the human experience, as she weaves together her cultural background with themes that speak to our shared existence. The collection offers a thoughtful, introspective look at how we are shaped by the connections we make, reminding us of the invisible threads that bind us all.
