Faiths Unveiled

Lawan is a Texas native who has called Tuscany her adopted home for over 30 years. With an undergraduate degree in Political Science and an M.A. in Anthropology, she was honored to be the Graduate Teaching Assistant to Dr. Mary Louise Hart, Associate Curator of Antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum. Lawan received her Certificate of Museum Studies before taking her postgraduate fieldwork overseas in Classical Archaeology, focusing on Art and Architecture History. During these academic years, the vast divide between the institutional bubble and the business ecosystem became vividly clear. The world needed “bridge builders” between scholars, artists, and donors. Leaving academia with hesitation but clear vision, she began Medici Way—a consulting and access service for philanthropists, eccentrics, and non-profits. Lawan brings awareness that today’s art will be tomorrow’s artifacts. Lawan splits her time between Italy, Texas and Wisconsin, where CIVA is headquartered. 

J.A  Forde has been with Qatar Museums since May 2019.  Prior to moving to Qatar, he lived in New York where he was the Director of Corporate Relations for the celebrated Brooklyn Museum.  A graduate of Hamilton College, over the last three decades, J.A. has successfully elevated the market visibility and revenues of art institutions, multiple non-profits, as well as numerous luxury and consumer brands. Employing an array of skills in re-branding, relationship building, event creation and execution, J.A. has built a strong reputation for innovative thinking.

Nadiia Chernovil is a Ukrainian artist, gallerist and curator. A member of Qatar Tour Guides and Fine Art Association. She obtained a Fine art degree from the M.B. Grekov Odessa State Art University (2000) and a master’s degree in law from National Academy of Law, Odessa, Ukraine.  Nadiia leads her own design company that brings together artists, architects, interior designers, and engineers to work on creative initiatives, with projects throughout Russia, as well as in Crimea, Ukraine and Qatar. She had been on numerous art and design television shows, and has written for many publications. She has lived in Doha, Qatar since 2014 and is currently the co-founder and curator of Chernovil Art Gallery, an artistic platform for creatives around the world. Nadiia's curatorial projects include architectural design, public art, fashion, music concert collaborations, painting, photography, collage, sculpture, installations and multimedia. She co-founded an international art movement called IQTargets-ART "Targetizm," where the card used for shooting targets serves as a symbol toward achieving goals of peace in our world. Having obtained 5th Prize at the 2019 Florence Biennale, the project travels the world and has been exhibited in Saatchi Gallery (London), Art Basel (Basel), Qatar, Ukraine, and India.  Nadiia believes that art is a universal language that erases all differences, as it both unites and helps people to discover their creative potential.

Helen Zughaib was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and holds a BFA from Syracuse University. Her work has been exhibited widely in the US, Europe, and Lebanon. Her paintings are included in many private and public collections, including the White House, World Bank, Library of Congress, US Consulate General-Vancouver, Canada, American Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, the Arab American National Museum in Michigan, and the DC Art Bank collection. Zughaib’s paintings have been gifted to heads of state by President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. She currently lives in Washington, DC, and works full-time as an artist. hzughaib.com