Dina is a Middle Eastern-born American artist. She received her training in architecture, urban design, and city planning. She then attended CalArts where she completed her MFA in 2015. Her paintings investigate the notion of home in relation to the layered contexts that both separate and connect the East and the West. Dina combines patterns of arabesque motifs with aerial views of built structures to express the spiritual and everyday realities of these places, and how they interact with (or infuse) each other to present not only an individual experience but also a social and cultural one.
Dina is an Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Her teaching and research explore the perceptive and evaluative attributes of public places, and the creative interpretations of their meanings. Dina is interested in the ways the social and psychological dimensions of places impact people’s sense of belonging and wellbeing. In line with her focus on equity, diversity and participatory social change, Dina collaborates through her Urban Design Studios with community organizations on projects that aim to use art and creative placemaking as a tool for building livable and vibrant communities.
