We sat down with sisters Raya and Raniya Mansoor to talk about their upcoming exhibition Cracks & Bloom in Dubai. From the stories behind their paintings to the ways they inspire and challenge each other, the sisters share a glimpse into their creative process and what it means to make art side by side.
Do you ever “borrow” colors, tools, or ideas from each other while working?
Raniya: I love the way Raya uses color and form. While I’ve liked to zone in on the intensity of ultramarine blue in my recent works, she has a way with creating cohesive compositions with beautiful and surprising colour choices. Her palette for Cracks & Bloom feels so fresh that it’s inspired me to start exploring a broader range of colors, and even oils as a medium. I imagine that influence will find its way into my upcoming works.
Raya: I think it happens more naturally than intentionally. I’ve found myself reaching for her signature ultramarine more than once while working on Cracks & Bloom. It’s such a striking color and it has this way of taking over a canvas. Sometimes it slips in as a bold strike, other times as part of a bloom. Either way, a little bit of her blue has found its way into my paintings!
Who usually finishes a painting faster — and who takes their time?
Raniya: We’re actually quite similar in pace when we know where a painting is headed. I definitely tend to slow down when I’m working on abstracts or in more exploratory phases; those paintings often complete over a much longer time, with layers, revisions, and pauses in between. But when the vision is clear, the process moves quickly for both of us.
Raya: It really depends. Neither of us are the type to plan a painting too much. Sometimes that means a painting comes together surprisingly quickly, almost like it already knew what it wanted to be. Other times, it stretches out and takes a lot of time, with pauses in between.
Do you have a favorite memory of painting together (or side by side as kids)?
Raniya: Countless memories! I don’t think Raya knows this, but I’ve saved and kept many of her childhood artworks. I might have been the older sister who first nudged her toward art, but she’s been inspiring me ever since. Creating together has always been a very consistent part of our life, from way back when we were children, to building Oevaali Art Shop & Gallery, and now to sharing a moment like this at Cracks & Bloom.
Raya: I have so many favorite memories of painting side by side, though I’m not sure my sister would say the same - I was the younger one, always far too interested in her colors and all her equipment. But for me, just being able to sit beside her, watching her paint or making something of my own, felt special.
If your sister’s style were a season, what would it be? And your own?
Raniya: Somewhere between spring and fall for both of us.
Raya: For Cracks & Bloom, I think we’re both somewhere between spring and fall.
If you had to swap one artwork from this collection, which piece of your sister’s would you want as your own?
Raniya: In Good Company
Raya: Botanica Sororia
Do you critique each other’s work or is it more about encouragement?
Raniya: I have complete confidence in Raya’s instinct on a canvas. Every so often, we both just need a reminder to trust our vision without second-guessing; a little nudge toward the step we already know we’ll take. That’s something we’ve always been able to give each other, not just in art, but in life too.
Raya: I usually share my process with her and check in if I’m unsure about stopping or moving forward, and the quiet little comments always help along the way.
How does the theme of Cracks & Bloom resonate with your personal journey as artists?
Raniya: Cracks & Bloom speaks to the way growth often emerges through change. As sisters and artists, we’ve known both the cracks and the blooms: the challenges that shaped us and the beauty that grew beside them. To share this theme together feels like a celebration of the journey that brought us here.
Raya: It’s always nice to have deep meaning behind the art. It feels special to explore Cracks & Bloom together with her in Dubai, and I hope it’s just the beginning of more moments like this.
Was there a moment while preparing this collection when one of you inspired or challenged the other’s perspective?
Raniya: Our differences keep the dialogue alive and interesting. We’ll be challenging and inspiring each other for the rest of our lives, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Raya: Our differences help to keep things interesting. There were moments when we approached the same idea from completely different angles, and that contrast helps us to see things in a new light.
Looking back at this collection, what has it taught you about yourself, and what new directions do you see opening in your art after this?
Raniya: I’ve realized that I build meaning as I paint - each layer adds its own story. Cracks & Bloom made me more aware of that process, and it’s inspired me to explore oils as a new direction in my work.
Raya: I'm excited about exploring layers of acrylics and oils, like in some of the Cracks & Bloom paintings, and continuing to develop that approach.
At the end of the day, what’s your favorite way to celebrate a “bloom moment” together?
Raniya: For me, a bloom moment is simply switching off and being together. Whether it’s late-night pizza in pajamas, a movie with too many snacks, or just laughing over nothing at all. It doesn’t matter what we do, as long as it’s us.
Raya: A day in the studio together!
