Artists' Biographies

Featuring the lives behind the art, these biographies highlight the voices and practices of artists who have shaped modern and contemporary art in the SWANA region. Through concise, research-driven portraits, each entry offers key insights into the artist’s life and practice, enriching the understanding of the region’s evolving artistic landscape.
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Showing 70 of 70 biographies

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Salem Al-Dabbagh

Read about influential Iraqi artist Salem al-Dabbagh in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.
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Suad al-Attar

Delve into the life and work of Suad al-Attar, one of Iraq's leading female artists, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Tiffany Floyd
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Fahrelnissa Zeid

Learn about Fahrelnissa Zeid, a Turkish mid-20th century modernist artist, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Adila Laïdi-Hanieh
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Inji Efflatoun

Explore pivotal Egyptian artist Inji Efflatoun's life and work in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Nadine Atallah
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Menhat Helmy

Read about Egyptian artist Menhat Helmy in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Mehri Khalil
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Omar el-Nagdi

Delve into Egyptian artist Omar el_Nagdi's figurative paintings in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Sarah Dwider
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Cesar Gemayel

Delve into the life and work of Cesar Gemayel, a pioneer of Lebanese modernism, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Sarah Rogers
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Amal Kenawy

Read about Egyptian visual artist Amal Kenawy's career and untimely passing in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Clare Davies
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Mohammed Melehi

Learn about leading Moroccan modernist Mohammed Melehi and his artistic contributions in the Mathaf Encyclopedia.

By Holiday Powers
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Asaad Arabi

Find out how influential artist Asaad Arabi's Lebanese origins and Syrian roots impacted his life and career in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Nour Asalia
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Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi

Delve into over three decades of Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi's work and inspirations in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Samina Iqbal
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Huda Lutfi

Read about prominent Egyptian contemporary artist Huda Lutfi in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Alex Dika Seggerman
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Adam Henein

Read about Adam Henein, one of the leading contemporary sculptors of the Arab World, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Nadia Radwan
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Paul Guiragossian

Read this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry about one of the region's most celebrated artists, Paul Guiragossian.

By Sarah Rogers
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Leila Nseir

Read about renowned Syrian painter and poet Leila Nseir in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Nour Asalia
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Ahmad Osman

Delve into the life and work of Ahmad Osman, a prominent Egyptian sculptor and painter, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Nadia Radwan

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Nancy Adajania

Learn about the curatorial journey of Nancy Adajania and her exhibitions including one that showcased the first-ever mapping the women’s movement in India.
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Aparna Andhare

Get to know Aparna Andhare, an art historian, curator, and writer, whose ongoing project is committed to interpreting historical art forms.
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Deniz Artun

Learn about Deniz Artun, a writer and curator recognised by the French Republic for her contributions to Turkish-French artistic and cultural exchange.
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Nour Asalia

Learn about Nour Asalia, a Syrian artist, researcher, and scholar whose writings focus on modern and contemporary Syrian art.

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Wael Shawky in Conversation with Abdellah Karroum

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About the Encyclopedia

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Explore the Mathaf Encyclopedia of Modern and Contemporary Arab Art. Discover artist biographies, essays, and scholarly insights.

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