Maisun Allahiq

Maisun was born in Saudi Arabia and grew up in Lebanon. She studied in England before moving to the United States. She has been interested in art since she was a young child. As she got older she was encouraged to study architecture. Painting and drawing classes were part of her education. She came to Lincoln to attend the University in the mid-seventies. After getting her degree she went back home and then returned to the U.S. in 1987. Her brother came to Lincoln first and encouraged Maisun to move here because he thought Lincoln was a good place to live. Maisun lived in Texas for awhile, but returned to Lincoln.

Before her current job as the manager of the graphics department at the Nebraska Health and Human Services System, she volunteered as an interpreter. She worked with people from Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Sudan. Often she translated for people who needed assistance in hospitals and with medical needs. She says that many who came as refugees suffered a lot of illness due to the stress and difficulty in their lives, but says it was still a joy working with them because in spite of the difficulty most still laughed easily and were glad to be here.

Maisun says she has always made art. Also, for many years has done freelance graphic design and continues to paint. She is currently a member of Gallery Nine in Lincoln where she shows her paintings.

 Back to Multicultural Arts Initiative