The Fusion of Engineering and Art
Growing up in Morocco, Kawtar Lourhraz was a curious little girl, captivated by the mechanics of the world around her. This insatiable curiosity was nurtured by her mother, Aziza Maalaoui, who emphasized the importance of education as a pathway to independence. With her mother’s encouragement, Kawtar dreamed of a future crafted through science and engineering, despite the limited representation of women in STEM fields. This unwavering belief in the transformative power of education propelled her across the Atlantic to the United States, where she pursued a career in engineering and manufacturing, notably at Cummins. Engaging with the engineering community instilled in her resilience, discipline, and the confidence to tackle challenges that once seemed insurmountable.
One of the pivotal moments in Kawtar's journey was her selection by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) to represent North Carolina during Congressional Outreach Day in Washington, D.C. Meeting Senator Ted Budd and advocating for policies that support women in STEM was a significant milestone for her, marking the realization of a childhood dream as she stood on Capitol Hill, speaking passionately about the future of women in engineering.
Reinventing Identity Through Artistic Expression
However, life took an unexpected turn for Kawtar after the birth of her son when she faced a common challenge among working parents: finding reliable childcare. This dilemma led her to make the difficult decision to leave her engineering position and stay home with her child. In this new chapter, she found herself on a quest for identity beyond her profession, which led her back to her passion for painting. Art became a therapeutic outlet for her emotions, transforming from a personal refuge into a profound calling.
As a Moroccan American artist, Kawtar's paintings reflect the stories of women, deeply influenced by her Amazigh heritage and the strength of the women in her family. Her artwork delves into themes of identity, resilience, and memory, celebrating the quiet courage found in everyday lives. Surprisingly, her work began to gain recognition in Arabic publications, sparking meaningful conversations about women and representation in the Middle East and North Africa. The most rewarding aspect of this journey has been the feedback from women who resonate with her art, illustrating the power of storytelling to inspire others to embrace their narratives.
Throughout her artistic evolution, Kawtar has collaborated with significant cultural institutions, such as the Festival National des Arts Populaire in Marrakech, connecting her Moroccan roots with her experiences in the U.S. Additionally, her paintings have been showcased in various venues across North Carolina, including the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences. One of her prominent works pays homage to her grandmother, Hada Bent Brahim, whose extraordinary resilience has profoundly influenced generations.
Today, Kawtar is also leading a documentary project that teaches abstract painting to incarcerated individuals in North Carolina, using creativity as a means of fostering reflection and healing. Looking back at her journey, she acknowledges that engineering and art have always been intertwined in her life. Engineering equipped her with problem-solving skills, while art provided a platform to explore complex questions about identity and belonging.
The overarching lesson from Kawtar's journey is that career paths are rarely linear. From a young girl with dreams of STEM in Morocco to a mother discovering her identity as an artist, she remains committed to creating opportunities and inspiring others to believe in the power of their voices and stories. Grateful for the support of SWE, she hopes her artistic endeavors encourage others to find their own voices.
As reported by alltogether.swe.org.
