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.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Clear

Showing 70 of 70 biographies

tbc

Ahmed ben Driss el Yacoubi

Learn about self-taught Moroccan visual artist and storyteller Ahmed ben Driss el Yacoubi in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Tina Barouti
TBC

Abdulkader Arnaout

Read about pivotal figure in modern Arab art, Abdulkader Arnaout, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.
tbc

Ezzeldin Naguib

Read about artist, writer and art critic Ezzeldin Naguib in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Mehri Khalil
tbc

Jagdish Swaminathan

Find out about artist and ideologue Jagdish Swaminathan in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Nancy Adajania
tbc

Mahmoud Hammad

Delve into the life and work of leading Syrian modernist artist Mahmoud Hammad exploring the creativity behind his remarkable works.

By Nour Asalia
TBC

Effat Naghi

Find out about influential Egyptian artist Effat Naghi and the creativity behind her remarkable works.

By Nadine Atallah
tbc

Mohamed Drissi

Read about influential Moroccan artist Mohamed Drissi and the creativity behind his groundbreaking works.

By Tina Barouti
tbc

Tamam al-Akhal

Delve into the life and work of Tamam al-Akhal, a foundational figure in modern Palestinian art, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Lina Ramadan
tbc

Chaibiya Talal

Explore the life and work of Chaibiya Talal, whose artistic contributions have shaped the cultural landscape.

By Farid Zahi
tbc

Daoud Corm

Read about Lebanese portraitist David Corm in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Sarah Rogers
tbc

Safia Farhat

Explore artist Safia Farhat's impact on Tunisia's artistic and feminist movements in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Lina Ramadan
tbc

Ezzedine Hamouda

Read about accomplished Egyptian painter and theorist Ezzedine Hamouda in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Clare Davies
tbc

Hamed Abdalla

Learn about Egyptian artist Hamed Abdalla in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Mehri Khalil
tbc

Jellal Ben Abdallah

Explore self-taught Tunisian artist Jellal Ben Abdallah's life and career trajectory in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Beya Othmani
tbc

Hassan Sharif

Uncover how leading Emirati conceptual artist Hassan Sharif pioneered new visual languages, and more, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Laura Barlow
tbc

Jamil Naqsh

Read about Pakistani artist Jamil Naqsh's figurative oil paintings of women with pigeons, and more, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Samina Iqbal

Meet the Authors

See All Authors
tbc

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.
tbc

Aparna Andhare

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

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.
tbc

Nour Asalia

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

You May Also Like

Read all essays

Mona Hatoum: Turbulence

By ​Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath

Discover how Mona Hatoum explores the concept of turbulence as a metaphor and experience in her works.

Drawing Chronicles: Wael Shawky’s Cabaret Crusades and the Fall of Teleological History

By Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev

Discover how artist Wael Shawky reimagines history through his Cabaret Crusades trilogy using marionettes, elaborate scenography and classical Arabic speech.

Wael Shawky in Conversation with Abdellah Karroum

By Abdellah Karroum

Join artist Wael Shawky in conversation with curator Abdellah Karroum as they delve into the making of Cabaret Crusades and Al Araba Al Madfuna.

About the Encyclopedia

Main Page

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

Image Rights & Reproduction

Learn more about requesting images from the Mathaf Encyclopedia and guidelines for reproduction and copyright.