Meet the Artist
My dad—Marwan Ahmad, a self-taught artist originally from Palestine—has been painting for over 40 years.
Painting was his way of expressing things words couldn’t—reflecting social and political issues, displacement, identity, and emotional chaos and an occasional beauty piece.
The Beginning
He first discovered his love for painting while studying at university.
In 1984, he hosted an art exhibition on campus—and to no surprise, it filled up quickly.
The feedback was incredible.
People were moved by his work, and it was clear even back then that his paintings carried something special.
After graduating, he immigrated from Jordan to the United States in search of better work opportunities. Between long hours and unstable jobs, painting slowly faded into the background.
Everyone who saw his work—family, friends, even strangers—strongly suggested that he goes public, But like many creatives, he never felt his work was “ready enough.” So for years he mostly kept it private
Little did he know how much it could mean to others, like this one story…
A Story to Tell
One moment from a few years ago still stays with us.
He had displayed one of his paintings—titled “Leaving Home”—in a friend’s local coffee shop.
The piece captured the emotional weight of immigration and starting over. One afternoon, an older woman came in, stood in front of it, and began to cry. The first thing she asked was, “Is the artist Palestinian or Syrian?”
She then asked to buy it. And even though my dad doesn’t prefer selling his art, he makes exceptions for people who deeply connect with the message behind the painting.
“Leaving Home” spoke to her, it moved something, and that’s why he let that painting go.
How Baba’s Canvas Started
We were sitting in the living room after a long day, watching our favorite show. My dad looked tired and said, “I need to find a different job. This one isn’t working anymore. It’s too inconsistent.”
I didn’t know what to say. I felt helpless…
Then I looked at the corner of the room—his little painting spot. An unfinished piece had been sitting there for over 2 years. It felt like a part of him—his passion—was slowly dying under the weight of responsibility.
I looked at him and said, “Do you want to give painting a real shot?” He didn’t fully believe it was possible. But he saw the excitement in my eyes. He saw I wasn’t asking him to dream—I was ready to build it with him.
So he said yes.
That night, I made a promise to him and to myself: I will do everything I can to bring your art to the world. And that night, Baba’s Canvas was born. (“Baba” means dad in Arabic. This brand is my way of telling my father’s story through my eyes—me, the son.)
The First Weeks That Changed Everything
Right after we launched Baba’s Canvas, I started posting his paintings on social media—just to see what would happen. I shared the stories behind the art and some portraits.
In just the first few weeks, we started getting incredible feedback, people saw their own memories in the paintings.
And that’s when something amazing happened.
My dad’s mindset started to change.
He realized that people do care about his art. That all those late nights painting, all those years of keeping his passion quiet—weren’t for nothing.
He was happy in a way I hadn’t seen in a long time
My Mission
- To share my dad’s art with the world and help him do what he loves
- Help you find artwork that speaks to your own life stories
- To Inspire young artists to share their work
If Your Reading This... Thank You
You’re not just here to browse art. You’re part of something deeper: a son keeping a promise to his father. A story being told and a message being heard.
We’re so glad you’re here!