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About

Shurooq Amin is a multidisciplinary award-winning Artist and Curator with a PhD in Ekphrasis, a 30 year career in art, and a pioneer in socio-political "artivism" in the region. She is the first Kuwaiti female artist to exhibit at the Venice Biennale, the first to be auctioned at Christie's, and the first to break the stereotypes of what it means to be an Arab female artist in her country. Amin's work pushes the boundaries and explores inherent cultural dialogues in order to instigate positive change in society. In early 2021, Amin became the first artist from Kuwait to enter the world of NFT art, and since then has been supporting other women to find their voice in Web3, and to find autonomy as creators. In 2022 Amin Founded and Curated Kuwait’s First IRL NFT Exhibition entitled WAGMI, in addition to curating From Strike  To Stroke, Ithra Museum’s first NFT collection for the World Cup Qatar 2022.

 

Amin is the first Kuwaiti woman to be interviewed by BBC’s Stephen Sackur on HARD Talk (Nov 17, 2014), and has appeared on a live panel discussion on BBC’s Democracy Day (Jan 20th 2015), as well as various other BBC news TV and radio shows.


She has had 15 solo exhibitions, more than 50 group exhibitions, her paintings have been sold at auctions, commissioned privately and publicly, awarded prizes locally and internationally, and shown at biennales and art fairs. Amin's poetry has been published and anthologized in more than 40 literary journals across the globe.​ She is the first Kuwaiti to be nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize in December 2007 in the USA.  
 

In 2012 she was nominated as one of Kuwait's 46 Inspirational People in Sheikha Intisar Al-Sabah's book The Alchemy of Wisdom, despite having her solo art exhibition It's a Man's World being shut down and censored by the Kuwait authorities.
 

In April 2013, Amin was awarded the title of Artist of the Year by the Arab Woman Awards.
 

She is the first Kuwaiti female artist to be auctioned at Christie’s auction house. 
 

In October 2014, Amin was nominated for the 2014/2015 Sovereign Asian Art Prize by Art Radar. 
 

She was a moderator, panel speaker and poet at NYU Abu Dhabi’s workshop FIND: Reversible (7-10 December 2014), alongside fellow speakers Manal Al-Dowayan and Sheikh Sultan Al-Qassemi. 
 

Amin is the first Kuwaiti female artist to show her work at the Venice Biennale (56th International Venice Biennale, Italy, May to November 2015).

  

In May 2016, she was invited to be one of the professors on the PhD examining board at the University of Trento, Italy; and invited as Speaker on art for change at the Academy of Fine Arts, Brera, Milan.

 

On October 5th, 2016, Amin was listed as one of the top 50 GCC Women Leaders and has been the recipient of the Extraordinary Women In Leadership award, nominated for the Extraordinary Women’s Awards by ECCO, Dubai, and a speaker at the Global Economic Forum: Women in Leadership in October 2016.
 

In the summer of 2017, she completed an art residency at Art Omi International in New York, and in 2018, she appeared in The Women Within, a film by Bloomingdales focusing on celebrating the women behind the women, curated an art installation for the Arab Woman Awards, and spoke at GUST University for their Visual Culture conference SEEN. 
 

On January 8th 2020, Shurooq Amin's 15th solo art exhibition - Like Russian Dolls We Nest In Previous Selves - opened up to critical acclaim at CAP Gallery in Kuwait. The exhibition was shut down and censored by Kuwait authorities on the false premises that the artwork was "pornographic", and she has since been a speaker on censorship in the arts and the repression of voice for women, speaking at the Bahrain Rotary Club, Jordan Rotary Club, and the Berlin Freemuse Conference on Artistic Freedom. 
 

This second-time censorship has fueled Amin to further expose hypocrisy in the Muslim world. And as such, in early 2021, Amin turned to the world of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) as a platform for freedom of expression, using NFT art as a utility for freedom, getting her message across universally without fear of oppression or censorship. She became the first Kuwaiti artist to mint, list, and sell her artworks as NFTs.

 

She Founded and Curated Kuwait’s First IRL NFT Exhibition, entitled WAGMI. She also became the first NFT artist to establish a Twitter Space for the Middle Eastern & North African community, bringing the community together and supporting other artists and creators in the space. She has been onboarded to several NFT platforms, collaborated with several projects (including Keevo crypto wallet), and has exhibited at 3 different galleries at NFT NYC: Women of the World with Nowhere Gallery X Infinite Objects, Sabet X Spatial for Stratosphere, and Soho Technique X We Dream Auction House & Gallery Crawl, in addition to other NFT galleries. Amin was also a Featured Speaker at NFT London 2022 and her work showcased at NFT NYC 2022 and 2023.

 

Since 2021, Amin has been interviewed and featured numerously as one of the pioneering Arab women in the NFT space, on platforms like YouTube (CryptoTalks with Rudy Shoushany), Arab Web3 news platforms like Cryptonaat & About Her, podcasts like Women Power Podcast (Bahrain) for empowering Arab women (Episode 124: Championing Fearlessness in Art & NFTS with Shurooq Amin), as well as Arab news channels like Annahar News channel, NuqtaDoc from Saudi Arabia, The National News (UAE), and Kuwait Times & Kuwait News (Kuwait), as well as Middle Eastern magazines like SEKKA, not to mention international news channels and magazines (eg: Brytehall Editorial).

 

Amin continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be an Arab Muslim woman and mother to four children, to break stereotypes of what society deems appropriate for a woman in her 50’s, to live outside of the socio-political box that she was born and bred in, and to tackle taboo topics via her art.

Dr Shurooq Amin

Complete Bio

Portfolio: https://linktr.ee/shurooqamin

 

 

Academic Degrees:

 

  • 2007 - PhD in Creative Writing from Warnborough College (specializing in Modern Poetry in the subject of Ekphrastic Art and Poetry).

  • 1989 - Master’s Degree from Kent University, England, in Modern Literature (specializing in Modern Poetry).

  • 1988 - BA in English Literature from Kuwait University (minor in French).

  • 1984 - O'Levels from New English School, Kuwait.

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Certifications:

 

  • 2019 - International Yacht Training License.

  • 2018 - Certificates and License from the Pilates Method Alliance - New York/Dubai/Milan - in Pilates coaching: Anatomy, Mat, Reformer, Chair, etc.

  • 2004 - Diploma in Interior Decorating from Thomson Education Direct (specializing in Feng Shui consultation).

  • 1994 – Padi & Naui Scuba Diving Certification and licenses.

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Awards, Nominations, Partnerships, Auctions:

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  • 2023 Sept - Nominated for the Arts Award for Women in Tech by Amazon Music. 

  • 2022 Nov – Speaker at NFT.London convention.

  • 2022 Oct – Paid partnership with Cole Haan to promote the brand for one month, with photo shoot, video, and social media presence.

  • 2022 Sept - Commissioned by Rudy Shoushany, Host of Cryptotalks Wednesday, for NFT artwork certificate for 25 Top Women in Tech.

  • 2022 Sept/Oct: Collaboration with Virgin Mobile for 5 NFT artworks.

  • 2022 Sept/Oct – Onboarded as Hefty Art Middle East Curator.

  • 2022 Sept – Oct: One of four Judges on a panel of Judges for The Ammar Award, a regional Arab Talent Show for Creatives with Disabilities, that spanned 8 cities, and broadcast live in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

  • 2022 - Listed as 1 of the Top 9 NFT Arab Female Artists in the NFT space that promote and inspire Women in Web3.

  • 2022 July -  Listed as 1 of the Top 10 Influential Arab Women in the Crypto Space, by Cryptonaat (Suha Glal). Interview on LinkedIn

  • 2022  March – Listed as 1 of 100 female NFT Artists for Amplify’s #100womeninnfts

  • 2022 - Listed as 1 of the Best 8 Arab NFT Artists by @NFTsArabi

  • 2022 March – Interview by The National News with other visionary women as one of the pioneering women in Web3 and NFTs.

  • 2022 March – Interview with @nuqtadoc by Shaimaa Gaber as pioneering NFT artist.

  • 2022 March -  Featured as one of the pioneering women in the NFT space by Annahar News Channel:

  • 2022 - Interview with Financial Freedom Today.

  • 2022 - Interview with Visible Women NFT.

  • 2022 - Interviewed by Balqees For Her (balqeesforher.net) as a pioneer in NFT art in the region.

  • 2022 - Interviewed by Arabs Bitcoin (arabsbitcoin.com) as a pioneering Kuwaiti NFT artist.

  • 2022 June 22nd – Interviewed by Rudy Shoushany on Cryptotalks on @youtube , with DX Talks Events. discussing NFTs for creators & collectors in this volatile market.

  • 2022 – Interview for Women in Crypto at WealthyVerse Studios (USA), with Shayne LaMeyer.

  • 2022- Featured in The Standard as a role model with inspirational daily habits for success.

  • 2022 - Featured in Influent Online, as the first Kuwaiti artist to use NFT technology in art.

  • 2022 July - Interviewed by Arab Market Cap, as one of the pioneering women in Web3 and NFTs.

  • 2022-Women-led campaign advocating women empowerment with Sheikah Intisar Al-Sabah.

  • 2022 March – Long term partnership with Give - @give.kwt - a platform that is a gateway to registered, Kuwaiti charities, facilitating donations to those in need, and connecting the donor with the charity of their choice with ease and transparency. 50% of all my NFT sales across all my platforms will be donated to charity using Give: https://www.give.org.kw/en/ 

  • 2021 December – Interview with Aljarida as Kuwait’s First NFT Artist.

  • 2021 Featured in Dr William Todd Schultz’s book The Mind of The Artist, Oxford Press.

  • 2022 February - Partner Co-Creator with Keevo wallet and Naomi Galai for the Stolen Scream project/collection collaboration.

  • 2022 February – Interview with Raseef22 By Nazeeha Saeed.

  • 2022 February - Interview with Brytehall’s Mark Lean.

  • 2022 February – Featured in @sekkamag ‘s Womanhood issue, alongside a group of exceptional women in the Arab world. Issue 6 Volume 25

  • 2022 - Kuwait News feature on being Kuwait’s First NFT Artist

  • 2021 December – Interview with Aljarida as Kuwait’s First NFT Artist.

  • 2021 Featured in Dr William Todd Schultz’s book The Mind of The Artist, Oxford Press.

  • 2022 February - Partner Co-Creator with Keevo wallet and Naomi Galai for the Stolen Scream project/collection collaboration.

  • 2022 February – Interview with Raseef22 By Nazeeha Saeed.

  • 2022 February – Featured in @sekkamag ‘s Womanhood issue, alongside a group of exceptional women in the Arab world. Issue 6 Volume 25

  • 2018 July - Artist-in-Residence at HANNACC Barcelona, Spain

  • 2018 March/April – Appeared in The Women Within film, by Bloomingdales, showcasing the “women inspiring inspirational women”.

  • 2018 – Sao Paolo Biennale. 

  • 2017 June 15 to July 11 - Artist-in-residence at Art Omi International Art Residency, New York, USA.

  • 2016 October 5th -Top 50 GCC Women Leaders award by World Brand Congress. 

  • 2016 October - Extraordinary Women In Leadership award, Dubai.

  • 2016 October-  Speaker at the Global Economic Forum: Women in Leadership in October 2016, both in Dubai. 

  • 2016 September – Nominated for the ECCO Extraordinary Women Competition, Dubai. 

  • 2016 June to July – Artist Residency at Villa Lena, Italy.

  • 2016 27th April – Bonhams auction: An Arabian Tragedy, LOT 168, Mixed media on canvas mounted on wood, 2012, 130 x 180 cm. London.

  • 2016 March - Art Dubai. RCA Secret Dubai auction for charity. 

  • 2016 January - February - Online auction with Loyal at www.store.loyac.org for the Loyac "Peace of Art" campaign. All proceeds to charity. Installations of 2 barrels of oil. 

  • 2015 May to November -Exhibited at the 56th International Venice Biennale, with the pavilion In the Eye of the Thunderstorm: Effervescent Practices from the Arab World and Asia. Art installation composed of 3 projections with 3 sculptures forming one large scale installation exploring the issues of corruption, social taboos, and pollution both on a regional level and a global one. 2015- Nominated and chosen for the Contemporary Practices Pavillion for the 56th Venice Bienniale - May 9th to November 22, 2015.

  • 2015 February - Young Collectors Auction with Ayyam Gallery. Lot 34: I Need a Hero. Mixed media on wood panel. 

  • 2014 October - Nominated for the 2014/2015 Sovereign Asian Art Prize by Art Radar.

  • 2014 May 27th - The Young Collector’s Auction,  Art From the Middle East (Auction no. 20), Ayyam Gallery, Dubai. Lot 74 She Loves Me She Loves Me Not, from the series It’s a Man’s World.

  • 2013 October 19th - Blind New World Limited Edition print auctioned and sold at London's Automobile Club in collaboration between Jusoor and Ayyam Gallery and all proceeds went to charity, to benefit the children of Syria.

  • 2013 September 16th - LOT 44, The Last Straw (50 x 300 cm C-Print Plexiframe, edition 1/3, 2013) sold at Ayyam Gallery's The Young Collector's Auction No. 15.

  • 2013 April 17th - Awarded title of Artist of the Year by the Arab Woman Awards, Kuwait, ITP.

  • 2013 April 17th - Blind New World from the series Popcornographic auctioned and sold at Christies Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish Art, Part II. Dubai.

  • 2012 October 22: - The Big Bling (part of the censored It's a Man's World series) sold at Ayyam Gallery's The Young Collector's Auction in Dubai, and print of I Like Him, I Like Her (from It's a Man's World) also auctioned. Edition 1/25.

  • 2012 May 15th:  Shurooq's painting My Harem in Heaven (part of the censored It's a Man's World series) was sold at Ayyam Gallery's The Young Collector's Auction in Dubai.

  • 2012 April 18th: Hala Feb Baby from the Society Girls series sold at the Christie's auction for the United Nations World Food Program held in Dubai.

  • 2012 Nominated as one of Kuwait's 46 Inspirational People in Sheikha Intisar Al-Sabah's book The Alchemy of Wisdom.

  • 2011 December 2nd: Judge in Red Bull's international art competition Art of Can, Kuwait.

  • 2011- February 8/9: "My Louboutins", the last painting from the Society Girls series sold at the JAMM Art Auction, co-founded by Lulu Al-Sabah, held at the Avenues, Kuwait, auctioneered by Aileen Agopian.

  • 2010 – February 16/17: “Society Girls” from the series Society Girls came third top bid at the Inaugural Auction of Contemporary Arab and Iranian Art, held in Kuwait at Al-Corniche Club, by JAMM, co-founded by Lulu Al-Sabah; auctioneers Philips de Pury of New York.

  • 2010 - Held the position of the Kuwait judge for the “Inspirational Woman” competition hosted/sponsored by Ahlan magazine and Philadelphia company, Dubai, which culminated in a Gala Dinner held at Raffles Hotel in Dubai to award the winners.

  • 2009 – Awarded the OPEC Vienna Headquarters commission for two large scale paintings to be permanently exhibited in the OPEC Vienna building, represented by Ms Fatina Al-Sayed, curator of Fine Arts.

  • 2009 – Awarded the Derwaza VIP Lounge at Kuwait Airport contract for one year to provide the Derwaza with customized paintings.

  • 2009 -  Award for Grand Jury duty in the World E-Summit Award, by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences. March 8th to 12th 2009. Sponsored by the Amir of Kuwait.

  • 2009 – Award for the Cairo International Art Biennale, Dec. 2008.

  • 2009, June – Winner of Best of Worldwide Artists in Mixed Media and Figurative paintings, by Kennedy Publishing , USA.

  • 2009 – Award from UNESCO, cultural week, Kuwait.

  • 2009, Nov. - Commendation from the Aesthetica Creative Works Competition in Fiction Category for “The Crescent Charm”, a short story.

  • 2008, Feb. - Awarded the Amir Abdulreda Creative Prize for paintings exhibited in February 2008 by the Kuwait Arts Association, Hawalli, Kuwait.

  • 2007 - First Kuwaiti to be nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize in December 2007 for “Framboise Fig and Bronze Nude”, poem published in the Summer 2007 issue of DMQ Review.

  • 2007 - Third place award for “The Other Wife” from Perigee: Publication for the Arts poetry competition.

  • 2007 - Honorable mention for “Mud-Roses” in the Perigee: Publication for the Arts 2007 poetry contest.

  • 2006 - Award for Poetry Reading at the American University of Kuwait.

  • 2005 - Award for paintings exhibited at the 44th National Day and 14th Liberation Day Exhibition from the Kuwait Arts Association, Kuwait.

  • 2004 - Award for the First Kuwaiti Al-Khorafi Biennale in December 2004 from the Kuwait Arts Association, Kuwait.

  • 1997, 1998 - Judge of the National Art Competition prepared by the Meridien Hotel in Kuwait.

  • 1998 - PADI Advanced Scuba Diving certification and license from Dive Caroline, Kuwait.

  • 1993 - License and certificate in NAUI Scuba Diving from Al-Boom Diving School, Kuwait.

  • 1987, 1986, 1985 - Three awards for Drama and Theatre, and Certificates of Appreciation, Kuwait University.

  • 1984 - Awarded first prize for her painting in a national art competition in Kuwait.

  • 1980-1981 - Certificate of Merit for artwork presented at NES.

  • 1979 - First prize in Ballet Performance from the London School of Contemporary Dance, Kuwait. Awarded several Certificates of Appreciation.
     

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Exhibitions:

 

  • 1977 - Participated in first group art exhibition at the Ahmed Al-Adwani exhibition hall in Dahiat Abdullah Al-Salem, Kuwait.

 

  • 1994 - Solo exhibition at Ghadir Gallery in Salhiya, Kuwait.

 

  • 1997 – Solo art exhibition, entitled Faces, at Boushahri Gallery in Salmiya, Kuwait.

 

  • 1997 – November: Solo art exhibition at the Meridien Hotel in Kuwait City.

 

  • 1999 - Solo art exhibition at The Art Shop gallery in Salhiya, Kuwait.

 

  • 2002 – October: Solo art exhibition at the Kuwait Arts Association, entitled Wind and Water, featuring forty large oil on canvas paintings based on the Chinese concept of Feng Shui.

 

  • 2004 –December: Exhibited at the First Kuwaiti Al-Khorafi Biennale, Kuwait.

 

  • 2005 -February: Exhibited at the 44th National Day and 14th Liberation Day Exhibitionat the Kuwait Arts Association, Kuwait. Awarded the prize.

 

  • 2007 – April: Exhibited at the opening ceremony of The Diplomatic Club in Bidaá, Kuwait.

 

  • 2007 – December: Exhibited at the Kuwait Contemporary Art Exhibition at the Kuwait Arts Association.

 

  • 2008 –January: Exhibited with other local artists in the General Contemporary Art Exhibition/Khalifa Al-Qattan Creative Award at the Kuwait Arts Association, Hawalli, Kuwait.

 

  • 2008 – February: Exhibited at the Kuwaiti Women’s Exhibition. Awarded the Amir Abdulreda Creative Prize by the Kuwait Arts Association.

 

  • 2008 – February 17 – 19: Exhibited five paintings at Dar Al-Funoon Gallery, Kuwait, for a charity fund raiser event “23 x 30” for Bayt Abdullah children’s hospice.

 

  • 2008 – March 23rd to 31st: Sixth solo art exhibition entitled The Gift, comprising 30 large oil on canvas paintings, Kuwait.

 

  • 2008, Nov. – Group exhibition with other Kuwaiti artists at the Avenues Mall, Kuwait.

 

  • 2008, Dec. – Exhibited in the Kuwait Biennale (Al-Khorafi Biennale).

 

  • 2008, December – Invited to represent Kuwait and participate in the 11th International Cairo Art Biennale in Egypt with two paintings.

 

  • 2009, February – Exhibited in the Kuwait Creative Art Festival and Exhibition, at the Kuwait Arts Association.

 

  • 2009, February – Exhibited and donated 2 poems for a charity event at the Q8 for Life show at The Exhibition, Kuwait, opposite Seif Palace.

 

  • 2009, March 8th to 14th – Exhibited with of 4 Arab Artists (exhibition entitled “Apples”) curated by Fatina Al-Sayed of Fine Arts at Marina Hotel, Kuwait, in celebration of Women’s Day. The 24 paintings were a new collection of paintings for Shurooq synthesizing painting, photography, and poetry.

 

  • 2009, May 1st – Group Exhibition curated by Fatina Al-Sayed at the Movenpick Hotel, Bidaá, Kuwait, for the Design for Youth charity fundraiser.

 

  • 2009, May 4th – Exhibited two paintings at the Spring Exhibition for the National Council of Arts, Culture, and Letters, Ahmed Al-Adwani Art Gallery, Kuwait.

 

  • 2009, Aug 1st, Summer Tour – Mirca Art Tour Group for Human Rights exhibition, Sweden.

 

  • 2009, Nov. - Group exhibition at Ghadir Gallery, Kuwait: The Affordable Art Show, curated by Thuraya Al-Baqsami.

 

  • 2010 Jan. 7th – Group exhibition at the CAN (Contemporary Art Network), Chelsea, New York.

 

  • 2010 February – Group exhibition at the Kuwait Arts Association.

 

  • 2010 February – Three artists exhibition at the new Bu Gallery, Hawalli, Kuwait.

 

  • 2010 March – Group exhibition at Al-Sayed Art Gallery in Damascus, Syria.

 

  • 2010 March 11th – Exhibited at Dasman Research Treatment of Diabetes Center for World Kidney Day, hosted by the Kuwait Nephrology Association.

 

  • 2010 March/April – Volunteered paintings to help in the Haiti crisis.

 

  • 2010 Feb – Group exhibition at Kuwait Arts Association.

 

  • 2010 - October: National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters group show, Kuwait.   

 

  • 2010 - October 20: Dar Al-Funoon group exhibition for Bayt Abdullah charity, Kuwait.

 

  • 2010 - October 21: "Re-Veiled - Vernissage". Group show at Lahd Gallery in London.

 

  • 2010 - November 1st: Society Girlz solo show at Tilal Gallery, Kuwait. 

 

  • 2011 - January: Group show at Boushahri Gallery for Kuwait Women Artists.

 

  • 2011- February 8/9: JAMM Art Auction, co-founded by Lulu Al-Sabah, held at the  Avenues, auctioneered by Aileen Agopian.

 

  • 2011 March 3 - April 13 - Solo show: London premiere SHOT: The Untold Truth of Society Girls. Exhibited the new series The Bullet Series.

 

  • 2011 March 6th - "Woman": Group show at Tilal gallery, Kuwait, curated by Fatina Al-Sayed, for the occasion of women's week.

 

  • 2011 July 13 to 16th - Exhibited with FA Gallery at the MENASART Fair Beirut, Lebanon, with "The Kiss" from the series It's a Man's World.

 

  • 2011 September 28th - October 15th: "Another Kind of Love" from the Society Girls series, courtesy of its collector, exhibited at the Contemporary Art Platform, Kuwait.

 

  • 2011 October - Beyond Movements at FA Gallery. A collaboration between art, fashion, & photography with fashion designer Abdullah Al-Saab and photographer Bader Al-Bassam.

 

  • 2011 November 18th: "I Love You", a painting from the Synthesis series, auctioned at the KsPath Auction and Ball for charity, in association with JAMM, Kuwait.

 

  • 2011 November 24 -27: Exhibited at the Contemporary Istanbul Art Fair with FA Gallery, representing Kuwait.

 

  • 2012 March 5th: It's a Man's World solo exhibition at AL M Gallery. Was supposed to be a 3 week exhibition (until April 1st) but was censored and shut down by the authorities after 3 hours.

 

  • 2012 April 18th: Hala Feb Baby from the Society Girls series sold at the Christie's auction for the United Nations World Food Program held in Dubai.

 

  • 2012 May 15th:  Shurooq's painting My Harem in Heaven (part of the censored It's a Man's World series http://www.ayyamgallery.com) was sold (above estimate) at Ayyam Gallery's The Young Collector's Auction in Dubai.

 

  • 2012 September 21st: In collaboration with other fellow artists, Shurooq Amin & Amira Behbehani - as The Art Salon - established Peace One Day Global Truce Art Exhibition, Kuwait, at Contemporary Art Platform in Shuwaikh, Kuwait, in support of the international peace foundation Peace One Day.

 

  • 2012 October 22: - The Big Bling (part of the censored It's a Man's World series) sold at Ayyam Gallery's The Young Collector's Auction in Dubai.  Print of I Like Him, I Like Her (from It's a Man's World) also auctioned. Edition 1/25. 

 

  • 2013 March 18th - April 14th: Solo exhibition of the Popcornographic series exhibited exclusively at Ayyam Gallery in Dubai, Al-Quoz, during Art Dubai.

 

  • 2013 April 18th: Blind New World, from the 2013 Popcornographic series, sold at Christie's auction in Dubai.

 

  • 2013 September 16th - LOT 44, The Last Straw (50 x 300 cm C-Print Plexiframe, edition 1/3, 2013) auctioned at Ayyam Gallery's The Young Collector's Auction No. 15.

 

  • 2013 October 19th - Blind New World Limited Edition print auctioned and sold at London's Automobile Club in collaboration between Jusoor and Ayyam Gallery and all proceeds went to charity, to benefit the children of Syria.

 

  • 2014 May 27th - The Young Collector’s Auction,  Art From the Middle East (Auction no. 20), Ayyam Gallery, Dubai. Lot 74 She Loves Me She Loves Me Not, from the series It’s a Man’s World.

 

  • 2014 September 14 - October 23 - Solo exhibition of 2014 series We’ll Build This City on Art and Love at Ayyam Gallery, DIFC, Dubai.

 

  • 2014 November 12 to 2015 January 2015 - Solo exhibition of 2014 series We’ll Build This City on Art and Love at Ayyam Gallery, London, New Bond Street, including artist talk with Anthony Downey.

 

  • 2015 May 6 to November 22 - Exhibited at the 56th International Venice Biennale, from May 9 to November 22, 2015, with the pavilion In the Eye of the Thunderstorm: Effervescent Practices from the Arab World and Asia. Her installation was composed of 3 projections with 3 sculptures forming one large scale installation exploring the issues of corruption, social taboos, and pollution both on a regional level and a global one.

 

  • 2016 January - Participated in the Peace of Art campaign with Loyac, Kuwait, turning barrels of oil into art installations. 

 

  • 2016 March - Art Dubai. Participated in the Art Dubai RCA Secret Dubai. 

 

  • 2016 April 9th – May 21 – Solo show It’s a Mad World, a collaboration between Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, and Contemporary Art Platform, Kuwait, curated by Martina Corgnati (Italy). The exhibition included 18 mixed media paintings and an installation. 

 

  • 2016 September 18 to November 5 - It's a Mad World solo show at Ayyam Gallery, Beirut. 

 

  • 2017 May - Abolish 153 group art exhibition, HUB Gallery, Kuwait. 

 

  • 2017- Arab Woman Awards commissioned installation “Breaking the Glass Ceiling” for Bloomingdales windows at 360 Mall.

 

  • 2017- Arab Woman Awards commissioned installation “Breaking the Glass Ceiling” installed at Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah residence.

 

  • 2018 March – Den Gallery group exhibition.

 

  • 2018 – April – Abolish 153 Art exhibition.

 

  • 2019 February - Speaker at Nasab Member's Club in Dubai, with an Artist Talk and Q & A, including an art exhibition of selected works. 

 

  • 2020 January 8th - Opening of Amin's 15th solo art exhibition Like Russian dolls, We Nest in Previous Selves, which was subsequently shut down and censored on January 15th by the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Information, on false premises that the artwork was too "pornographic". 

 

  • 2020- NFTs: They Wanted Camels, I Gave Them Camels, a sarcastic dystopian exploration of moral hypocrisies in the Middle East, an exhibition of acrylic paintings and NFTs, and each painting provides the collector with its exclusive unique NFT to keep the copyright of the painting with the collector. 

 

  • 2021-2022- NFTs: World Art Dubai (Dubai),  MENA NFTs (Bahrain), Namaste NFTs (India), MHouse Club Linked Collection (Amsterdam), We Are Sovereign Collection, One Drop NFTs Collection, The Stolen Scream Collection with Keevo Wallet, etc. Please follow Twitter for updates, as the NFT space moves fast and there are daily and weekly events and collaborations etc. 

 

  • 2022 - Exhibitor at Eth Barcelona NFT Exhibition with MHouse Member’s Club as part of the MHouse History of Crypto Art, on show at the Museum of Crypto, Barcelona.

 

  • 2022 May - Collaboration with Jason Balducci.

 

  • 2022 June - NFT NYC:

    • Women of the World with Nowhere Gallery X Infinite Objects

    • Sabet X Spatial for Stratosphere, and

    • Soho Technique X We Dream Auction House & Gallery Crawl.

 

  • 2022 - Exhibitor at Bahrain’s First MENA NFT exhibition.

 

 

  • 2022 - Exhibitor/featured in The Sovereign NFT Art Gallery.

 

  • 2022- Founded and Curated Kuwait’s First IRL NFT Exhibition WAGMI with over 100 international artists, Kuwait City, at the Contemporary Art Platform in Kuwait, Sponsored by Nifty Souq (Gold Sponsor), and OasisX (Silver). 

 

  • 2022 Oct – Dec – Curated From Strike To Stroke, Ithra Museum’s first NFT collection for the World Cup Qatar 2022 (ARAMCO), with 32 artists representing the  32 World Cup countries.

 

  • 2023 January – Guest Curator with Morrow Collective for Nifty Gateway, curating To AI or Not To AI, That Is The Question, with 5 artists.

 

  • 2023 February – Solo Phygital exhibition “A Woman Of Importance” at ftNFT gallery, Dubai, with 10 physical artworks & 10 NFTs.

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  • 2024 March - Exhibited at Art Dubai Digital 3 Phygital artworks with Leila Heller Gallery in collaboration with Makersplace.

 

 

 

 

 

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Memberships and Representations:

 

  • 2022 - First member of MHouse Member’s Club to earn Connector Role

  • Represented in the Middle East by Ayyam Gallery from 2012 - 2018.

  • Represented by Lahd Gallery, London (UK and Saudi Arabia) in 2010-2011.Member of the Soroptimists International.

  • Represented by Anais Laurent, curator and gallery owner of  Galerie Quint-Essences, Switzerland 2008.

  • Represented by MENA Speakers Dubai.

  • Represented by CAN – Contemporary Art Network – in New York, USA, in 2009.

  • Delegate at the Gulf Arts and Cultural Leaders Conference, Kuwait delegate, November 2009.

  • Delegate at the Gulf Cultural Art & leaders Conference, Doha, Qatar, 23-23 November 2011.

  • Member of the Consultation Research and Studies committee at the Amiri Diwan, Bayan Palace, in March 2008.

  • Member of the Grand Jury of the World E-Summit Award, by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences – March 8th to 12th 2009, sponsored by the Amir of Kuwait.

  • Member of the Panel at the UNESCO cultural week in Kuwait, March 23rd 2009, representing the Kuwait Arts Association.

  • Member of BPW, Business and Professional Women International, Kuwait Chapter, 2009.

  • Member in International Association of Art and World Crafts Council – Asia Pacific.

  • Member of The Poetry Society, UK.

  • Member of The Poetry Society of America (USA).

  • Member of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP, USA)

  • Member of the Writer’s / Scholar’s Association, Kuwait.

  • Member of the Certified Interior Decorators International (CID, USA).

  • Member of the Kuwait Association of British Alumni (KABA).

  • Member of Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiya, Kuwait.

  • Member of the Kuwait University Language Centre Accreditation Committee.

  • Member of the Faculty Association, Kuwait University, as well as a member of various committees at Kuwait University.

  • Member of TESOL Arabia and TESOL Kuwait.

  • Member of NAUI and PADI scuba diving schools.

  • Member of KUBBY – Kuwait Board on Books for Young People, 2000-2001.

  • Member of the London School of Contemporary Dance from 1974 to 1984.

​

​

 

Speaker Bio::

 

  • 1993-1999: Poetry readings and lectures at the Kuwait English School, and others.

  • 1995- 1999: Several poetry readings at the J.W. Marriott Hotel.

  • 2006: Poetry reading at the American University of Kuwait.

  • 2009: Poetry reading at Dar Al-Funoon art gallery, May 2009.

  • 2009: Presentation at Pecha Kucha night #2 Kuwait, at the Al-Qiblia Cultural Center, Kuwait City, 24 June 2009.

  • 2011: Guest speaker at American University of Kuwait, at the invitation of Diwan Book Club, May 17, 2011.

  •  2012: Guest speaker at Dr Aseel Al-Awadhi's electoral venue, Kuwait, January 25th 2012.

  •  2012: Poetry reading, guest speaker and member of panel at the Virginia Commonwealth University of Qatar, Doha, 26-29 March 2012 for the launch of the poetry anthology Gathering the Tide: An Anthology of Arabian Gulf poetry.

  •  2013: Guest speaker at the Kuwait Writing Club, April 2013, GUST University, Kuwait.

  •  2014: Guest speaker and panel discussion on censorship at Bayt Lothan with Dr Naif Al-Mutawa and Nada Faris, April 2014.

  •  2014: Guest speaker at the American University of Kuwait, on contemporary art, on May 19th 2014.

  •  2014: Panel speaker on BBC Arabia's program Dunyana,  May 2014.

  •  2014: Guest speaker at the University of Trento, Italy, on the subject of Ekphrasis: the connection between art and poetry,15-17 October 2014.

  •  2014: Guest speaker at the Liceo Quadro in Vicenza, Italy, October 18th 2014.

  •  2014: Guest/interviewed by Stephen Sackur on HARDTalk program on the BBC World News Channel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLG44n3w6uo November 2014.

  •  2014: Panel moderator and panelist at the NYUAD FINDReversible workshop in Abu Dhabi, December 7-9. Details: http://blogs.nyuad.nyu.edu/findreversible/

  •  2015: Panel speaker on BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, January 20th, London.

  •  2015: Interview with on BBC's Arts Daily, January 20th, London.

  •  2015: Panel speaker at BBC's Democracy Day debates on Democracy and Islam, January 20th, London. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02h863b

  •  2015: Interviewed by BBC Arabia’s Bila Quyood program, November 2015.

  •  2015: Speaker at the Kuwait Women’s Cultural and Social Society, organized by Tanweer.

  •  2016 May – Panel examiner for the PhD examining board at the University of Trento, Italy.

  •  2016 May - Speaker at the University of Trento, Italy.

  •  2016 May – Speaker at the Academy of Fine Arts, Brera, Milan (Italy).

  •  2016 June – Artist talk and poetry reading at Villa Lena as part of a summer art residency, Tuscany, Italy.

  • 2016 October - Speaker at the 18th Global Economic Forum, Women in Leadership conference by Naseba, Dubai.

  • 2016 October- Speaker at the Extraordinary Women In Leadership award by World Congress Brand, nominated for the Extraordinary Women’s Awards by ECCO, Dubai.

  • 2016 October- Speaker at the Global Economic Forum: Women in Leadership, Dubai.

  • 2017 June/July - Speaker at Art Omi international art residency in New York.

  • 2018 April - Speaker at GUST University SEEN Conference on Visual Media in Culture.

  • 2019 February - Interviewed by Jumana Haddad on the controversial Arabic program The Forbidden on Al-Hurra News Channel in Beirut. https://www.alhurra.com/a/487564.html

  • 2019 February - Speaker at Nasab Member's Club in Dubai, with an Artist Talk and Q & A, including an art exhibition of selected works.

  • April 2020 - Speaker on Asterisk, Woodbury University

  • 2021 January - Speaker at Bahrain Rotary Club.

  • 2021 February - Speaker at Jordan Rotary Club.

  • 2021 February 25 - Speaker and Panelist at Freemuse Artistic Freedom Conference in Berlin. 

  • 2022- Women Power Podcast (Bahrain), Women in Crypto at WealthyVerse Studios (USA), etc.

  • 2022 - Host of Middle East & North Africa "NFT Talk" Twitter spaces biweekly & weekly. 

  • Nov 2022 - Speaker at NFT London, biggest and most significant NFT & Web3 Conference.

  • Nov 2022 – Speaker at Ithra Museum’s NFT exhibition From Strike to Stroke, Qatar.

  • May 2023 - Panel Speaker at the Women on the Front Lines conference in Jordan, speaking on the topic of AI and ChatGPT.

​

 

 

 

Publications:

 

Poems, short stories and articles published in several international literary journals, including:

 

  • 2005 - Etchings with Ilura Press, Australia. Vol. 1, issue 1.

  • 2005 - Many Colored Brooms, an online creative writing journal; issue #1.

  • 2006 - Many Colored Brooms, an online creative writing journal; issues # 2.

  • 2006 - Beauty/Truth: A Journal of Ekphrastic Poetry. Vol. 1, issue 1.

  • 2007 - Ekphrasis: A Poetry Journal. Vol. 4, no. 3.

  • 2007 - The Rose & Thorn Literary E-Zine. Fall 2007 issue.

  • 2007 - Words-Myth: A Quarterly Poetry Journal. April 2007 issue.

  • 2007 – The Cannon’s Mouth. Issue no. 23.

  • 2007 – The Journal. Issue no. 19.

  • 2007 – DMQ Review. Spring/Summer 2007 issue.

  • 2007 – Miranda Literary Magazine. Spring 2007 issue.

  • 2007 – Poesia with Indian Bay Press. Summer 2007 issue.

  • 2007 – Aesthetica Magazine. Aug./Sept. 2007, issue no. 18.

  • 2007 – Blood Lotus. Sept. 2007, issue no. 6.

  • 2007 – Living Poets, with Dragonheart Press. Fall 2007; issue ii.iii.

  • 2007 – Spoon River Poetry Review. Fall 2007 issue.

  • 2007 – Perigee: Publication for the Arts, April issue.

  • 2007 - Miranda Literary Magazine.

  • 2007-2011 – Saatchi Gallery, London.

  • 2007-2011 – Absolute Arts Gallery.

  • 2007-2011 – World Wide Arts.

  • 2007-2011 – Q8 Art, Kuwait.

  • 2008 – Artmesh Gallery.

  • 2008 – The Fuschia Tree Art Gallery, India.

  • 2008 – Artists.de – Germany. 2008 – Art Break.

  • 2008 – Pearl Magazine. Issue no. 39.

  • 2008 – Tanjah Aladabia. January 2008; issue #1.

  • 2008 – 32Poems magazine. Winter 2008 issue.

  • 2009 – My Art Space.

  • 2009 – Art House.

  • 2009-2011 – Galerie Quint-Essences, Switzerland.

  • 2009 – Best of Artists Worldwide, winner of Mixed Media and Figurative art, Kennedy Publishing, USA.

  • 2009 – Mirca Art Group: Planet Art, Planet Earth book.

  • 2009/10 - Contemporary Art Network gallery, New York, USA.

  • 2010/11 – Saatchi Gallery, London.

  • 2011 - Art Miami. 2009 – Monkey Puzzle magazine. Issue #7.

  • 2009 – Rio Grande Review, with Univ. of Texas press. Vol. 33, Spring issue.

  • 2012 - Gathering the Tide: An Anthology of Arabian Gulf Poetry with the Virginia Commonwealth University of Qatar, Doha.

  • 2014 - Sukoon magazine, Middle East Literary Journal.

  • 2015- Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, Tufts University.

  • 2016-2020: Various online publications and journals.

  • 2021- We Wrote in Symbols Anthology, Saqqi Books, London, UK. 

  • 2022/2023 – A Remarkable Woman,  by MENA Speakers, UAE.

​

​

Books:

 

  • 1994 and 1997 - Published a poetry book, entitled Kuwaiti Butterfly Unveiled, locally in 1994, with a small distribution of 500 copies; and then internationally in 1997 with Minerva Press: ISBN-10:0754106268 and ISBN-13:978-0754106265.

​

  • April 2009 - Published a poetry book, entitled The Hanging of the Wind, with the Finishing Line Press in USA (ISBN: 1-59924-429-2). Can be purchased online

​

  • 2010/2011- Poetry anthology: Gathering the Tide: An Anthology of Arabian Gulf poetry by Ithaca Publishers in association with the Virginia Commonwealth University of Qatar.​

​

  • 2021 - We Wrote in Symbols, Love and Lust by Arab Women Writers. Edited by Selma Dabbagh. Published by Saqi Books, UK.

 

  • 2021 - Featured and Interviewed in Dr William Todd Schultz’s book The Mind of The Artist, Oxford Press.

 

​

 

 

WEB3 BIO:

 

 

  • April 2020 - Speaker on Asterisk, Woodbury University

 

  • 2020- NFTs Collection Drop: They Wanted Camels, I Gave Them Camels, a sarcastic dystopian exploration of moral hypocrisies in the Middle East.

 

  • 2021-22 Several NFT auctions and sales on the platforms of Foundation, OpenSea, KnownOrigin, Rarible, NFTOne, Nifty Souq, Sandmilk, and Fandefi.

 

  • 2021-2022- NFT Exhibitions, Collections & Collabs: : World Art Dubai (Dubai),  MENA NFTs (Bahrain), Namaste NFTs (India), MHouse Club Linked Collection (Amsterdam), We Are Sovereign Collection, One Drop NFTs Collection, The Stolen Scream Collection with Keevo Wallet, NFT NYC.

 

  • 2021 – Poetry anthologized in We Wrote in Symbols, Love and Lust by Arab Women Writers. Edited by Selma Dabbagh. Published by Saqi Books, UK.

 

  • 2021 January - Speaker at Bahrain Rotary Club.

 

  • 2021 February - Speaker at Jordan Rotary Club.

 

  • 2021 February 25 - Speaker and Panelist at Freemuse Artistic Freedom Conference in Berlin. 

 

  • 2021 January - They Wanted Camels I Gave Them Camels NFT Collection minted and listed on Foundation, first NFT SOLD

 

  • 2021 February - First MENA NFT Twitter Space established: Middle east and North Africa NFT Talk every Monday & Thursday.

 

  • 2021 April – Interview on One Tribe Radio/ MSPWaves with Minnowpond.

 

  • 2021 April - Interview with Denise Jackson, Curator

 

  • 2021 December - Art Basel Miami.

 

  • 2021 December – Interview with Aljarida as Kuwait’s First NFT Artist.

 

  • 2021 Featured in Dr William Todd Schultz’s book The Mind of The Artist, Oxford Press.

 

  • 2022 February - Partner Co-Creator with Keevo wallet and Naomi Galai for the Stolen Scream project/collection collaboration.

 

  • 2022 February – Interview with Raseef22 By Nazeeha Saeed.

 

 

  • 2022 February – Featured in @sekkamag ‘s Womanhood issue, alongside a group of exceptional women in the Arab world. Issue 6 Volume 25

 

  • 2022 - Kuwait News feature on being Kuwait’s First NFT Artist

 

  • 2022 - First member of MHouse Member’s Club to earn Connector Role

 

  • 2022 - Exhibitor at Bahrain’s First MENA NFT exhibition.

 

  • 2022 - Exhibitor/featured in The Sovereign NFT Art Gallery.

 

  • 2022  March – Listed as 1 of 100 female NFT Artists for Amplify’s #100womeninnfts

 

  • 2022 March – Interview by The National News with other visionary women as one of the pioneering women in Web3 and NFTs.
    https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/art/2022/03/07/how-arab-women-are-breaking-into-the-world-of-nfts-through-art-and-design/
     

  • 2022 March – Interview with @nuqtadoc by Shaimaa Gaber as pioneering NFT artist.

 

  • 2022 March -  Featured as one of the pioneering women in the NFT space by Annahar News Channel: @annaharnews and @annaharar 

 

  • 2022 March – Long term partnership with Give - @give.kwt - a platform that is a gateway to registered, Kuwaiti charities, facilitating donations to those in need, and connecting the donor with the charity of their choice with ease and transparency. 50% of all my NFT sales across all my platforms will be donated to charity using Give: https://www.give.org.kw/en/ 

·2022 April – Podcast Interview with Women Power Podcast womenpowerpodcast

  • 2022 May - Collaboration with Jason Balducci.

 

  • 2022 June - NFT NYC:

    • Women of the World with Nowhere Gallery X Infinite Objects

    • Sabet X Spatial for Stratosphere, and

    • Soho Technique X We Dream Auction House & Gallery Crawl.

 

  • 2022 June 22nd – Interviewed by Rudy Shoushany on Cryptotalks on @youtube , with DX Talks Events. discussing NFTs for creators & collectors in this volatile market.

 

  • 2022 July - UPYO marketplace featured verified artist.

 

  • 2022 – Interview for Women in Crypto at WealthyVerse Studios (USA), with Shayne LaMeyer.

 

  • 2022- Featured in The Standard as a role model with inspirational daily habits for success.

 

  • 2022 - Featured in Influent Online, as the first Kuwaiti artist to use NFT technology in art.

 

  • 2022 - Women-led campaign advocating women empowerment with Sheikah Intisar Al-Sabah.

 

  • 2022 - Interview with Financial Freedom Today.

 

  • 2022 - Interview with Visible Women NFT.

 

  • 2022 - Listed as 1 of the Best 8 Arab NFT Artists by @NFTsArabi

 

  • 2022 - Interviewed by Balqees For Her (balqeesforher.net) as a pioneer in NFT art in the region.

 

  • 2022 - Interviewed by Arabs Bitcoin (arabsbitcoin.com) as a pioneering Kuwaiti NFT artist.

 

  • 2022 - Exhibitor at Eth Barcelona NFT Exhibition with MHouse Member’s Club as part of the MHouse History of Crypto Art, on show at the Museum of Crypto, Barcelona.

 

  • 2022 - Listed as 1 of the Top 9 NFT Arab Female Artists in the NFT space that promote and inspire Women in Web3.

 

  • 2022 July -  Listed as 1 of the Top 10 Influential Arab Women in the Crypto Space, by Cryptonaat (Suha Glal). Interview on LinkedIn.

 

  • 2022 July - Interviewed by Arab Market Cap, as one of the pioneering women in Web3 and NFTs.

 

  • 2022 Sept – Commissioned NFT artwork by DBX Talks

 

  • 2022 Oct – Interviewed by Fortune Magazine for Fortune Crypto.

 

  • 2022 Oct – Infinite Objects X Studio As We Are for Women of the World.

 

  • 2022 Nov – Speaker at NFT.London convention.

 

  • 2022 Nov – Curated Drop for Makersplace; A Woman of Importance: The Knife Series, 5 digital paintings minted as NFTs with an Unlockable Content of an Ekphrastic poem.

 

  • 2022 Nov 15 to Dec 30 – Founded and Curated Kuwait’s First IRL NFT Exhibition WAGMI with over 100 international artists, in Kuwait City, at the Contemporary Art Platform in Kuwait, Sponsored by Nifty Souq (Gold Sponsor), and OasisX (Silver).

 

  • 2022 Oct – Dec – Curated From Strike To Stroke, Ithra Museum’s first NFT collection for the World Cup Qatar 2022 (ARAMCO), with 32 artists representing the  32 World Cup countries.

 

  • 2023 January – Guest Curator with Morrow Collective for Nifty Gateway, curating To AI or Not To AI, That Is The Question, with 5 artists.

 

  • 2023 February – Solo Phygital exhibition “A Woman Of Importance” at ftNFT gallery, Dubai, with 10 physical artworks & 10 NFTs.

  •  

  • 2024 March - Exhibited at Art Dubai Digital 3 Phygital artworks with Leila Heller Gallery in collaboration with Makersplace. 

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