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 140 of 140 biographies

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Hassan Soliman

Explore the work of prolific writer and artist Hassan Soliman in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Clare Davies
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Ahmed Cherkaoui

Read about the life and works of Ahmed Cherkaoui, once one of the leading Modernist painters of Moroccan art.

By Samia Touati
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Mohammed Ghani Hikmat

Explore Mohammed Ghani Hikmat's beginnings and works in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry about the undeniable Iraqi artist.

By Tiffany Floyd
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Elias Zayat

Delve into the life and works of prominent Syrian artist and art restorer Elias Zayat in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Mathilde Ayoub
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Laila Muraywid

Read about multidisciplinary Syrian artist Laila Muraywid's life and inspirations in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Mathilde Ayoub
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Abdel Hadi El-Gazzar

Read about artist Abdel Hadi El-Gazzar's short but prolific career as a leader of postwar Egyptian painting in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Alex Dika Seggerman
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Marwan Kassab-Bachi

Learn more about activist and artist Marwan Kassab-Bachi in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry about the late Syrian painter.

By ​​​​​Charlotte Bank
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Samir Rafi

Delve into the world of prominent Egyptian artist Samir Rafi in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Mehri Khalil
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Atta Sabri

Delve into this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry about pioneer of modern Iraqi art Atta Sabri.

By Tiffany Floyd
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​​​​​​Sliman Mansour

Explore the life and work of legendary Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Sarah Rogers
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Nejad Melih Devrim

Explore the life and work of legacy Turkish artist Nejad Melih Devrim in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Dr Necmi Sönmez
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Mohammad Ismail Gulgee

Explore the life and works of self-taught Pakistani artist Mohammad Ismail Gulgee in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Samina Iqbal
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Ragheb Ayad

Explore the life and work of prominent Egyptian painter, the late Ragheb Ayad in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Nadia Radwan
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Jilali Gharbaoui

Delve into the bold life and work of late artist Jilali Gharbaoui, considered one of the founders of modernism in Morocco.

By Holiday Powers
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Faiq Hassan

Faiq Hassan, the father of Iraqi modern art, was known for his representations of the Iraqi working class. Read more in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Tiffany Floyd
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Yahia Turki

Take a deep dive into the life and work of Yahia Turki, a pivotal figure in the world of Tunisian art, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Joan Grandjean

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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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Brahim Alaoui

Find out more about art historian, curator, and artistic director Brahim Alaoui in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.
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Zahra A. Hussein Ali

Discover the work of Zahra A. Hussein Ali, whose research explores comparative literature and visual culture, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.
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Anahi Alviso-Marino

Explore the work of multifaceted political scientist Anahi Alviso-Marino, including varied multimedia research-creation contributions.

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Photos from Baghdad: Notes on the First National Art Exhibition for Arab Women Artists, 1980

By Lina Ramadan

Delve into this essay by researcher and curator Lina Ramadan reconstructing the overlooked history of the First National Art Exhibition for Arab Women Artists in Baghdad.

Tomorrows Ripen Today

By Shuddhabrata Sengupta

Read this essay exploring how human history, technology, and art connect across time to keep the world alive and moving.

Jewad Selim: On Abstraction and Symbolism

By Dr. Nada Shabout

Discover the world of modern artist and sculptor Jewad Selim and his work exploring symbolism, abstraction and historical roots.

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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