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 120 of 120 biographies

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Yousef Ahmad

Read about artist Yousef Ahmad, a pioneering figure of modern and contemporary art in Qatar, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.
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Laurent Marcel Salinas

Delve into the life and work of prominent Egyptian artist Laurent Marcel Salinas in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Clare Davies
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Philippe Mourani

Explore the life and work of Lebanese painter Phillippe Mourani in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Marie Tomb
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Habib Serour

Read about Lebanese painter and portraitist Habib Serour in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Marie Tomb
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Ahmad Nawash

Delve into the life and work of Palestinian-Jordanian artist Ahmad Nawash in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Ala Younis
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Ahmed Nawar

Explore the life and works of Egyptian painter, sculptor, and printmaker, Ahmed Nawar in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Sarah Dwider
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Nouri al-Rawi

Explore the life and work of Iraqi visual artist and influential critic Nouri al-Rawi in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Zouina Ait Slimani
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Rafa Nasiri

Read this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry to explore the life and works of Iraqi painter Rafa Nasiri.

By Ala Younis
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Thuraya Al-Baqsami

Explore the life and work of Kuwaiti artist, writer, and printmaker Thuraya Al-Baqsami in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Olga Nefedova
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Rachid Koraichi

Delve into the life and work of multidisciplinary Algerian artist Rachid Koraichi in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Holiday Powers
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Ziad Dalloul

Read about the life and works of prominent Syrian artist Ziad Dalloul in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Mathilde Ayoub
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Youssef Kamel

Delve into the life and works of Egyptian painter Youssef Kamel, one of the leading 'pioneers', in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Nadia Radwan
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Mohamed Naghi

Explore the work of Mohamed Naghi, a figure pivotal to the history of the Egyptian modern art movement, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Brenda Segone
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Maqbool Fida Husain

Delve into the incredible life and works of legendary visionary artist Maqbool Fida Husain in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Aparna Andhare
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Hashim Samarchi

Explore this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry about Hashim Samarchi, a pioneering figure in Iraqi graphic art and design.

By Mysa Kafil-Hussain
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Moustafa Farroukh

Delve into the life and works of foundational figure in Lebanese painting Moustafa Farroukh, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Marie Tomb

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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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Notes On Weaving

By Mouna Mekouar

Read this essay by curator Mouna Mekouar reflecting on how art bridges diverse cultures and redefines itself across different spaces and times.

Saliba Douaihy: Autobiography and Artistic Views

By Badr el-Hage

Badr El-Hage, co-founder of Lebanon's Nabu Museum, tells of his conversations with the late, and extraordinary, Lebanese artist Saliba Douaihy in this retelling.

Ahmed Cherkaoui: Decode his Memory

By Brahim Alaoui

Explore this essay by researcher, museum director and juror Brahim Alaoui about the life, work and genius of Moroccan painter Ahmed Cherkaoui.

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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