Biography
Based in Egypt, Nada Baraka is a visual artist with a bachelor in Visual Art from the American University in Cairo and an MA from Central Saint Martins in London. Baraka held several solo shows in Cairo and exhibited in numerous group shows in Egypt and internationally. In 2023 Baraka received the Anna Award from Latitudes Online, and initiated the group project Valley of Walls which got selected to become an Apex Art exhibition.
Artist Statement
Nada Baraka makes paintings that maintain an endless, active state of flux, swaying between abstract and surreal with her evocative application and vivid colors. Baraka seeks to generate forms in new contexts as a means to challenge and deconstruct the obvious and tease meaning out of absurdity. Fluctuations of emotions triggered by various experiences build up to a narrative that eludes interpretation. The core of her work is this process that seeks to narrate an experience through expressionist brushwork and surrealist methodology. A central aspect in those narratives is the concept of eruption, appearing as distorted forms, body parts, colors or layers, all bathed in a fluidity punctuated with striking detail
BIOGRAPHY
Based in Egypt, Nada Baraka is a visual artist with a bachelor in Visual Art from the American University in Cairo and an MA from Central Saint Martins in London. Baraka held several solo shows in Cairo and exhibited in numerous group shows in Egypt and internationally. In 2023 Baraka received the Anna Award from Latitudes Online, and initiated the group project Valley of Walls which got selected to become an Apex Art exhibition.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Nada Baraka makes paintings that maintain an endless, active state of flux, swaying between abstract and surreal with her evocative application and vivid colors. Baraka seeks to generate forms in new contexts as a means to challenge and deconstruct the obvious and tease meaning out of absurdity. Fluctuations of emotions triggered by various experiences build up to a narrative that eludes interpretation. The core of her work is this process that seeks to narrate an experience through expressionist brushwork and surrealist methodology. A central aspect in those narratives is the concept of eruption, appearing as distorted forms, body parts, colors or layers, all bathed in a fluidity punctuated with striking detail.
VISUAL ARTIST
B.1990, Works and Lives in Cairo
EDUCATION:
2007/2011-BA Fine Art at The American University of Cairo, Cairo.
2012/2014-MA Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, London.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2021-Land of Sequels, Gypsum gallery, Cairo.
2019 -Cosmic Truths and Tales to be Told, Gypsum gallery, Cairo.
2015 -Fractals, Mashrabia gallery, Cairo.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2023-The Valley of Walls, Ahmed Ali Kamal Residence, Apex art exhibition, Cairo.
2022-Fission, Goethe Institute, Cairo.
2019-Tea Time with my lungs, Soma Art Gallery, Cairo.
2017-Paper Trail, Gypsum gallery, Cairo.
2017-Cairo Art fair, Artsmart, Cairo.
2016-A season in Hell, Gypsum, Cairo.
2016-Les Negligences volontaires, Shanynay, Paris.
2016-Mohamed Abla’s Painting Exhibition, Greek Campus, Cairo.
2015-Roznama, Contemporary Image collective, Cairo.
2015-Naema’s office is bleeding, Medrar, Cairo.
2014-Mohamed Abla painting competition, Opera House, Cairo.
2014-Opera youth salon 25th, Opera House, Cairo.
2014-Roznama, Medrar, Cairo. 2014 – Mostra, Lisbon.
2014-Stop it, Postgraduate Degree show, Lethaby, London.
2013-CSM Auction Exhibition, Lethaby,London.
2013-First come first served, Lion x Lamb, London.
2013-Intransit, V22, London.
2012-FA VIP, ARTFAIR, New York.
2012-Parallel Visions, Darb 1718, Cairo.
2012-470 Parallel, Sharjah, Cairo.
2011-Annual Youth Salon, Opera house, Cairo.
ART FAIRS
2024-Solo booth at Latitudes Artfair, Johanesberg.
2023-Le lab x Gypsum gallery, The Grand Egyptain Museum, Cairo.
AWARDS:
2023-ANNA Award, Latitudes online, Johannesburg.
2015-Mohamed Alba’s Painting Award, Cairo.
AUCTIONS:
2024-Curatorial Voices : African Landscapes, Past and Present,Strauss and co.
BIENALLES:
2016-Something Else, off biennale at Darb 1718, Cairo.
GRANTS:
2023-International Open call exhibition, Apex Art, New York.
RESIDENCIES:
2017-Do-it بالعربي ”Dwell Workshop with architect Ahmed Zazaa at Townhouse
Factory, Cairo, Egypt.
CV
Visual Artist
B.1990, Works and Lives in Cairo
Education:
2007 – 2011 – BA Fine Art and Mass Communication at The American University of Cairo, Cairo.
2012 – 2014 – MA Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, London.
Solo Exhibitions:
2021 – Land of Sequels, Gypsum gallery, Cairo.
2019 – Cosmic Truths and Tales to be Told, Gypsum gallery, Cairo.
2015 – Fractals, Mashrabia gallery, Cairo.
Group Exhibitions:
2021 – Technocrate, Art. D’egypte, Cairo.
2019 – Tea Time with my lungs, Soma Art Gallery, Cairo.
2017 – Paper Trail, Gypsum gallery, Cairo.
2017 – Cairo Art fair, Artsmart, Cairo.
2016 – A season in Hell, Gypsum, Cairo.
2016 – Les Negligences volontaires, Shanynay, Paris.
2016 – Mohamed Abla’s Painting Exhibition, Greek Campus, Cairo.
2015 – Roznama, Contemporary Image collective, Cairo.
2015 – Art Fair, Arts-mart,Cairo. 2015- Naema’s office is bleeding, Medrar, Cairo.
2014 – Mohamed Abla painting competition, Opera House, Cairo.
2014 – Opera youth salon 25th, Opera House, Cairo.
2014 -Roznama, Medrar, Cairo. 2014 – Mostra, Lisbon.
2014 – Stop it, Postgraduate Degree show, Lethaby, London.
2013 – CSM Auction Exhibition, Lethaby,London. 2013 – First come first
served, LionxLamb, London.
2013 – Intransit, V22, London.
2012 – FA VIP, ARTFAIR, New York.
2012 – Parallel Visions, Darb 1718, Cairo.
2012 – 470 Parallel, Sharjah, Cairo.
2011 – Annual Youth Salon, Opera house, Cairo.
Biennales:
2016 – Something Else, off biennale at Darb 1718, Cairo.
Residencies:
2017 – Do-it بالعربي ”Dwell Workshop with architect Ahmed Zazaa at Townhouse
Factory, Cairo, Egypt.
Awards:
1st place at Mohamed Alba’s yearly painting exhibition.