Meet Sara Filali | Moroccan-American Artist and Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sara Filali and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sara, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started Filali Studios on accident. I was a broke college working 3 part-time jobs in my freshman year of college to pay rent. On the side I just drew for fun and occasionally posted my drawings on Instagram. One day a friend approached me and asked to pay me for a custom portrait. I was delighted (and very confused) that someone was willing to pay me for art. I made their portrait and posted it on social media, and then another person reached out to commission another portrait from me. And then another. And another. I was SHOCKED. Dozens of commissions later, I had created a side hustle that allowed me to quit one of my jobs! Eventually, I had a name for my business: Filali Studios, inspired by my family’s tribal name in Morocco. I made a logo, website, and business cards. I started to explore different ways of expressing my cultural and spiritual identity, and began adding products to my website like prints, stickers, and buttons.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art journey has been deeply influenced by my identity as a child of Moroccan immigrants and growing up as a Muslim in America. During my childhood I was acutely aware of my identities and often felt the weight of being “othered” in many spaces. Wearing the hijab at the age of 11, I encountered pervasive stereotypes of what a Muslim woman should look and act like, which motivated me to challenge these misconceptions through my art. Filali Studios is my platform to dispel stereotypes and counter orientalism, showcasing the agency and diversity of Muslim and BIPOC women. I particularly enjoy exploring surrealism and futurism in my art, using them as vehicles to express empowerment and resilience.
One of my biggest professional challenges has been balancing my passion for art with other commitments and responsibilities as a now working adult and a wife. Additionally, while social media has been instrumental in my growth, it also presented challenges. I often felt pressured to constantly produce and post content, leading to burnout. However, I’m navigating my way back to Filali Studios with a renewed focus on growth and expansion. I’m exploring new avenues such as writing books, embracing the business aspect of Filali Studios, and developing workshops as an educator. I’ve found that my greatest successes come from engaging with and contributing to the community, rather than confining myself to creating art in isolation.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Denver Colorado, and if my best friend was visiting for a week, we’d definitely make the most of the beautiful outdoors here. We’d spend a lot of time hiking in the mountains, maybe even venture out to Rocky Mountain National Park for some epic views. Boulder would be a must-visit for its cool vibe and great food scene.
Since I’m into horseback riding, I might take them to some of the ranches I ride at for some long trail rides. If it’s summer, we’d hit up some water spots like river tubing or whitewater rafting. In winter, snow tubing or skiing would be on the agenda.
And of course, a cabin trip would be the perfect way to unwind and enjoy the Colorado scenery. There’s just so much to explore and experience here!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Behind every person’s success is a village that supported their growth. For me, that village consisted of all of the friends, family, teachers, and mentors in my life who encouraged me since I was a child to keep drawing and writing stories. There’s Ms. Hujo, my first grade teacher who brought me supplies in class to practice writing little storybooks. There’s also my martial arts coach, Master Cuevas, who fostered my love for anime, shared cool fanart, and encouraged me to draw more characters- even letting me paint my first mural on the wall of his martial arts studio. I can’t forget Professor McFerguson, my public speaking professor who showed me that I can take my love for art and writing, turn it into “research” and to make a career out of it. And perhaps the biggest honorable mention of all, my grandmother, Zohra Zaoui, the first storyteller in my life who filled my imagination with epic folktales that became the catalyst of my first published book, “Hajeetek Majeetek”.

Website: https://www.filalistudios.com

Instagram: @sara_filali and @filali_studios

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filalistudios/

Other: TikTok: filali_studios

Image Credits
My husband, Rayan Alnajar, took most of these photos!