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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Bibi Zogbé

Read this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry about “the painter of the soul of plants” Lebanese artist Bibi Zogbé.

By Marie Tomb
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Fahrelnissa Zeid

Learn about Fahrelnissa Zeid, a Turkish mid-20th century modernist artist, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Adila Laïdi-Hanieh
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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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Abdul Hay Mosallam Zarara

Learn about Palestinian self-taught artist Abdul Hay Mosallam Zarara in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Ala Younis
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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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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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Adham Wanly

Delve into the life and work of Egyptian modern painting artist Adham Wanly in the Mathaf Encyclopedia.

By Nadia Radwan
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Seif al-Din Wanly

Read about Mohammed Seif al-Din Wanly, a pioneering Egyptian modern artist, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.

By Nadia Radwan
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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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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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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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Jagdish Swaminathan

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

By Nancy Adajania
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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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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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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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Habib Serour

Read about Lebanese painter and portraitist Habib Serour 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

Main Page

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

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