Meet the ISOAG Team
The artists, educators and founders behind the International Studio of Art & Galleries in Al Safa 1, Jumeirah. Real, named people — an award-winning artist, an art psychotherapist and practising artist-facilitators — who teach every class in person.
Our founders
ISOAG was built by two sisters who pair professional, exhibition-level art with a genuine, wellbeing-led way of teaching.
Ruxeena Musthafa
Co-Founder & Creative Director
Ruxeena is an artist, educator and UAE Cultural Golden Visa holder. She hosts Art2Heart, a Dubai television series on Channel D, and has shown her abstract work in the UAE for more than 25 years, exhibiting at World Art Dubai and Sikka Art Fair among others. At ISOAG she leads the creative programme and our painting classes, bringing professional, exhibition-level practice into every lesson.
Najah Musthafa, MA, AThR
Co-Founder, Managing Director & Art Psychotherapist
Najah is an art psychotherapist whose clinical, wellbeing-led perspective shapes how ISOAG teaches. Her influence is why our classes are designed to build confidence, focus and emotional expression alongside artistic skill — a clinician-informed approach you will not find at a typical art class.
Our artists & facilitators
Warm, patient and highly skilled, our resident facilitators are practising artists who tailor every session to the student in front of them.
Anju KC
Gallery Administration & Sales Manager
Anju holds a Master's in Social Work and brings warmth and professionalism to gallery operations, client enquiries and art-package sales. She supports our exhibitions and programmes, connecting students, artists, collectors and visitors with the creative vision of ISOAG.
Abu K Muhammed
Artist & Facilitator — Adult Classes
A native of Kerala, India, Abu is a Fine Arts graduate with over 35 years' experience as an artist in the UAE. He is an artist at the prestigious Sharjah Institute for Heritage and guides our students with patience, skill and deep artistic knowledge. He has taken part in Sharjah Heritage Days, Emirates Fine Arts Society exhibitions, Sharjah Art Museum programmes and the ADNOC Al Dhannah Sustainability Forum, and is a member of the Guild Art Community. He also leads our Saturday Adult Art Masterclass.
Nilukshima
Artist & Facilitator
Known for her calm guidance, creative depth and passion for teaching, Nilukshima works beautifully with both young children and adults — helping each student explore art with confidence, joy and personal expression, with patience and warmth in every session.
Anupama Erandi
Artist & Facilitator
A dedicated artist and facilitator passionate about nurturing creativity through hands-on learning. She works with students of all ages, building artistic skill alongside confidence and a personal creative voice, across drawing, painting, mixed media, clay art and pottery.
Why our team makes the difference
Most Dubai studios advertise "experienced instructors" but never name them. At ISOAG you always know who is teaching you — a named, awarded founder, a real art psychotherapist and practising artist-facilitators, together in one studio. It is why our classes feel professional and personal at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
Who teaches the art classes at ISOAG?
Every class is led by a named member of our team — not anonymous part-timers. Our founders, Ruxeena Musthafa and Najah Musthafa, work alongside our artist-facilitators Abu K Muhammed, Nilukshima and Anupama Erandi, with Anju KC supporting the gallery and student experience. You always know exactly who is teaching you.
Who founded ISOAG?
ISOAG was co-founded by Ruxeena Musthafa — an artist, educator and UAE Cultural Golden Visa holder who hosts the Dubai TV series Art2Heart — and Najah Musthafa, MA, AThR, a Managing Director and art psychotherapist whose wellbeing-led approach shapes how the studio teaches.
Are the ISOAG facilitators experienced?
Yes. Our facilitators are practising artists. Abu K Muhammed is a Fine Arts graduate with over 35 years' experience in the UAE and an artist at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, while Nilukshima and Anupama Erandi work across drawing, painting, mixed media, clay and pottery. All are experienced teaching every age and level — from a first-time four-year-old to an adult developing advanced technique.
Can I learn from a specific artist?
Our classes are personalised, so tell us what you would like to explore and we will pair you with the right facilitator. Abu K Muhammed also leads our separate Saturday Adult Art Masterclass, for those who want to learn from a practising heritage artist.
Where is the ISOAG team based?
At our studio in Al Safa 1, 16th Street, Jumeirah, near Safa Park, Dubai — easy to reach from across Al Safa, Jumeirah and Al Wasl, with parking nearby.