Authors

The authors are a distinguished group of scholars and practitioners who provide original essays shaping the discourse on modern and contemporary art in the SWANA region. Their essays present distinct ways of understanding the region’s artistic practices and cultural histories. Grounded in academic rigour and deep engagement with the region’s artistic histories and practices, their work ensures that artists are represented with depth, nuance, and intellectual integrity.
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Showing 32 of 32 authors

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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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Nadine Atallah

Learn about Nadine Atallah an art historian and curator whose research includes examining the political stakes of art through nationalism and feminism.
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Mathilde Ayoub

Explore the research project of Mathilde Ayoub, a French-Syrian curator and PhD student developing research, exhibitions, cultural management, and production projects for contemporary art.
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Saleem Al-Bahloly

Discover the work of art historian Saleem Al-Bahloly whose research explores the intersection of modern art and religious traditions.
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Laura Barlow

Discover the work of visionary curator Laura Barlow across museums, non-profit organisations, and independent art spaces.
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Tina Barouti

Find out more about Tina Barouti, whose work includes histories of colonialism, decolonisation movements, fine arts pedagogy and more.
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Emma Chubb

Explore the work of curator and scholar Emma Chubb and learn about her first retrospective project for one of North Africa’s most important artists.
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Iftikhar Dadi

Learn about Iftikhar Dadi, a professor of History of Art at Cornell University, researching transnational modern and contemporary art with a focus on Asia.
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Clare Davies

Learn about the work of curator Clare Davies, her landmark exhibitions and about her PhD in Egyptian art history.
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Sarah Dwider

Learn about the work of doctoral candidate Sarah Dwider and her research centering around modern art in Egypt.
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Tiffany Floyd

Explore Tiffany Floyd's work and research centred around relationship between Iraqi modern art and its rich, antique past and her forthcoming publication.
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Joan Grandjean

Explore the works of Joan Grandjean, an art historian specialising in contemporary art from the Arab world and his many notable publications.
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Ranjit Hoskote

Explore the influential curatorial projects and writings of poet and curator Ranjit Hoskote, including museum retrospectives of major artists and his essays on the global art world.

Featured 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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Yousef Ahmad

Read about artist Yousef Ahmad, a pioneering figure of modern and contemporary art in Qatar, in this Mathaf Encyclopedia entry.
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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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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.

Artists in Context

By Dr Nada Shabout

Discover the works of five pioneering artists who redefined modern art in the Arab world by intertwining personal experience, cultural heritage, and bold artistic innovation.

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.

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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