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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Khadiga Riaz

Find out more about Khadiga Riaz, a central figure in Egypt's first wave of painterly abstraction, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Clare Davies
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Ahmed Khan

Learn about designer and modernist painter Ahmed Khan and explore his artistic contributions in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Samina Iqbal
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Ramses Younan

Learn about pivotal Egyptian artist Ramses Younan and explore his artistic contributions in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Alex Dika Seggerman
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Ayesha Mariam Durrani

Learn about Pakistani painter Ayesha Mariam Durrani and explore her artistic journey in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Samina Iqbal
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Unver Shafi Khan

Discover contemporary artist Unver Shafi Khan and explore his innovative works in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Samina Iqbal
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Ismail Fattah al-Turk

Read about one of Iraq's most prominent artists, Ismail Fattah al-Turk, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Zouina Ait Slimani
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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
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Abdulkader Arnaout

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

By Mathilde Ayoub
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Ezzeldin Naguib

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

By Mehri Khalil
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Jagdish Swaminathan

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

By Nancy Adajania
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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
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Effat Naghi

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

By Nadine Atallah
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Mohamed Drissi

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

By Tina Barouti
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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
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Chaibiya Talal

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

By Farid Zahi
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Daoud Corm

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

By Sarah Rogers

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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

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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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