Salam,

My name is Hayat, I am a cultural worker, book dealer, and slow art curator. I wear many hats and do many things. I translate words and culture between Arabic and English speakers. I love to write , though I rarely publish (working on that). I am a maker, I work with my hands, and savor art by other artists.

I parent one child and two cats along side a wonderful partner.

Fig and Folio was born in 2024, as a space where to share the things that reflect how I experience art and culture.

In 2025, I am thinking about my beloved mother tongue— Arabic. I want people, Arabs and non-Arabs alike, to speak it, read it and love it. I want children to experience the beauty of Arabic, to feel the joy of decoding its whimsical, flowing letters from right to left.

So, I will be curating collections of Arabic books, with a focus on Arabic children’s books. There may also be some textiles and other treasures — pieces that come that stem from my interests and what I experience and believe is relevant.

Welcome to Fig and Folio

Ahlan Wa Sahlan