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 90 of 90 biographies

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Hamed Abdalla

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

By Mehri Khalil
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Jellal Ben Abdallah

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

By Beya Othmani
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Hassan Sharif

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

By Laura Barlow
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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
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Marguerite Nakhla

Discover pioneering Egyptian artist Marguerite Nakhla's life and career in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Nadine Atallah
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Abidin Dino

Read about versatile Turkish artist Abidin Dino's beginnings and career in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Deniz Artun
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Ahmed Morsi

Delve into contemporary Egyptian artist Ahmed Morsi's paintings and Arabic poetry in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Lara Ayad
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Kadhim Haidar

Delve into the life and career of Kadhim Haidar, once one of the most influential modern artists in Iraq, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Saleem Al-Bahloly
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Mohanna Durra

Discover the life and career of Mohanna Durra, a pioneer of Jordan's modern art movement, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Sarah Rogers
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Khalid al-Jader

Read about Iraqi artist and scholar Khalid al-Jader in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Tiffany Floyd
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Zarina Hashmi

Learn about Indian-born artist Zarina Hashmi in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Aparna Andhare
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Mahmoud Sabri

Delve into the life and career of Iraqi artist and intellectual Mahmoud Sabri in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Amin Alsaden
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Anwar Jalal Shemza

Read about Anwar Jalal Shemza, a key modernist artist from postcolonial South Asia, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Iftikhar Dadi
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Salah Enani

Read about Egyptian artist Salah Enani in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Sarah Dwider
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Bahman Mohassess

Learn about prominent Iranian visual artist, translator, and theatre director Bahman Mohasses in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Tina Barouti
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Shakir Ali

Learn about Shakir Ali, an artist, teacher, and thinker, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Samina Iqbal

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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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Shirin Neshat in Conversation with Abdellah Karroum

Explore this interview hosted by critic and curator Abdellah Karroum, spotlighting Iranian artist Shirin Neshat.

Mona Hatoum: Turbulence

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

About the Encyclopedia

Main Page

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

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