Samir Hamaiel is an artist based in Brisbane, Australia. With over 10 years of architectural experience studying and practicing in the UK, Netherlands, Hong Kong and most recently Australia, he has concurrently been developing an art career. The themes explored by Samir have been directly influenced and framed by this architectural background. He has a particular interest in the in-between; less celebrated urban spaces which have evolved over time and demonstrate their history with markings, signage and texture. This approach may be seen as a reaction against the architectural approach that often seeks to control. He is also fascinated by examining everyday objects in extreme detail so they appear to be something else altogether – they are elevated beyond the everyday and celebrated. In 2016, Samir was announced the overall winner of the Brisbane 2015 Art-force Awards for his painted Traffic Signal Box entry, ‘Growth’, and he has been a finalist in several Australian awards including the Calleen Art Award, Milburn Art Prize, Contemporary Art Awards and Lethbridge 10000. He participated in his first solo show, Borrowed Landscapes, last year at Graydon Gallery, Brisbane.