Photo by Fumimaro AyanoEman Ali is an Omani-Bahraini visual artist based between Bahrain, Oman and Kenya. Ali’s work combines AI, photography, text, sound, and installations to delve into the complex interplay between gender, religion, and socio-political ideologies in the Khaleeji culture. By using her practice as a means of social critique, observation, and investigation of the layered histories of the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa, Ali ‘s work invites us to consider the untold stories of our society and reflect on the systems that shape our experiences.
LIMITED EDITION PRINTS, COMMISSIONS, IMAGE LICENSING
All inquiries: info@emanali.com
Represented by 50 Golborne Gallery + Hunna Art
Member of Women Photograph
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EDUCATION
2017 Royal College of Art, MA Photography (UK)
2008 Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design,
BA Graphic Design (UK)
ART FAIRS
2025 Solo presentation at Investec Cape Town Art Fair (South Africa)
2024 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair (London)
2024 Foundations Fair, Artsy (Online)
2023 MENA Art Fair (Brussels)
2022 Paris Photo Fair (France)
2020 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair (London)
2020 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, New York (Online)
BIENNALES
2019 Lagos Biennial 2nd Edition (Nigeria)
SOLO SHOWS
2024 The Earth Would Die If The Sun Stopped Kissing Her, Reminders Photography Stronghold (Tokyo)
2019 Utendi, 50 Golborne Gallery (London)
GROUP SHOWS
2023 Female in Focus: Bridge and Tunnel Gallery (NYC)
2023 Parfums d’Orient, The Institut du Monde Arabe (Paris)
2023 Elevision x Hunna Art, Dubai International Financial Center (Dubai)
2023 huna x Hunna Art, Takhassusi (KSA)
2023 Millon Auction House, Salons du Trocadero (Paris)
2023 Der Greif: Past & Present, Pinakothek der Moderne & ZIRKA (Munich)
2022 Taipei Blockchain Week (Taiwan)
2022 Female in Focus 2022, Photofusion (London)
2022 The World Today, Madz Gallery (Florida)
2022 More Than Your Eyes Can See: Contemporary Photography from the Arab World, Middle East Institute (Washington D.C)
2022 NFT LA, SuperChief Gallery (LA)
2022 Vellum LA X Obscura: ‘WHO WE ARE’ Outdoor Billboard Exhibition, (LA)
2022 Serendipity, MIA Art Collection (Dubai)
2022 Pathways, Raffles The Palm (Dubai)
2019 - 2020 The Place I Call Home, Touring exhibition (UK + GCC)
2017 Behind The Portrait, Gulf Photo Plus (Dubai)
2016 Future Narratives, La Ira de Dios (Buenos Aries)
2015 The Devil May Care, The Noorderlicht Photogallery (The Hague)
2014 Recreational Purpose, Bahrain National Museum (Bahrain)
2014 SCHAU Festival (Dortmund)
2013 I Bought This For The Cover, Cob Gallery (London)
2013 Alwan 338, Al Riwaq Art Space (Bahrain)
2011 Documenting Muharraq, Bin Mattar House (Bahrain)
TALKS
2024 Artist Talk | Open Studio, Tokyo Arts and Space ( Tokyo)
2019 Artist Talk | Baraza, Swahili Studies Conference, School of Oriental
and African Studies (SOAS) University, London
2019 Gallery Talk | 50 Golborne Gallery, London
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2024 Avaissance Artist-in-Residence with Aaron Huey (Online, Season 2)
2024 Toyko Arts and Space (TOKAS), Tokyo
2016 Future Narratives curated by Juliana Gontijo - La Ira de Dios, Buenos Aries
PUBLICATIONS
2023 Pictures & Songs published by Booooooom
2022 Who We Are 200 - Special Edition published by Setanta Books.
2022 Kinfolk Travel: Slower Ways to See the World
2019 Succession (Artist Book)
2016 The Next 100: BMW Group book
2014 Recreational Purpose: Exhibition catalogue. Bahrain National Museum
2012 Background: Exhibition catalogue. Bahrain’s National Participation in the
13th international architecture exhibition at the La Biennale de Venezia
INVITATIONS
2018 Plat(t)form, Fotomuseum Winterthur (Switzerland)
RECOGNITIONS
2024 Winner, 24th Reminders Photography Stronghold Grant
2023 Nominated, C/O Berlin Talent Award 2024
2022 Shortlisted, PRIX BMW ART MAKERS 2023
2020 Winner (Single Image), Female in Focus Award, British Journal of Photography
2018 Shortlisted, Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize
2016 Shortlisted, European Photo Award
2013 Nominated, Foam Paul Huf Award
SELECTED CLIENTS & COMMISSIONS
The Institut de Monde Arabe, Amouage, BMW, Kinfolk, HAPAX, Ffotogallery Wales, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), The Standard Hotel, Selfridges
PRESS
Dazed
LVL3
Khamsa
Artsy
Booooooom
It’s Nice That
Der Greif Artist Feature & Artist Blog
Booooooom
Fish Eye Magazine, Part 1 & Part 2
CNN Style
The Guardian
AnOther Magazine
Harper’s Bazaar Arabia
L'OEil de la Photographie
PhMuseum
2017 Royal College of Art, MA Photography (UK)
2008 Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design,
BA Graphic Design (UK)
ART FAIRS
2025 Solo presentation at Investec Cape Town Art Fair (South Africa)
2024 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair (London)
2024 Foundations Fair, Artsy (Online)
2023 MENA Art Fair (Brussels)
2022 Paris Photo Fair (France)
2020 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair (London)
2020 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, New York (Online)
BIENNALES
2019 Lagos Biennial 2nd Edition (Nigeria)
SOLO SHOWS
2024 The Earth Would Die If The Sun Stopped Kissing Her, Reminders Photography Stronghold (Tokyo)
2019 Utendi, 50 Golborne Gallery (London)
GROUP SHOWS
2023 Female in Focus: Bridge and Tunnel Gallery (NYC)
2023 Parfums d’Orient, The Institut du Monde Arabe (Paris)
2023 Elevision x Hunna Art, Dubai International Financial Center (Dubai)
2023 huna x Hunna Art, Takhassusi (KSA)
2023 Millon Auction House, Salons du Trocadero (Paris)
2023 Der Greif: Past & Present, Pinakothek der Moderne & ZIRKA (Munich)
2022 Taipei Blockchain Week (Taiwan)
2022 Female in Focus 2022, Photofusion (London)
2022 The World Today, Madz Gallery (Florida)
2022 More Than Your Eyes Can See: Contemporary Photography from the Arab World, Middle East Institute (Washington D.C)
2022 NFT LA, SuperChief Gallery (LA)
2022 Vellum LA X Obscura: ‘WHO WE ARE’ Outdoor Billboard Exhibition, (LA)
2022 Serendipity, MIA Art Collection (Dubai)
2022 Pathways, Raffles The Palm (Dubai)
2019 - 2020 The Place I Call Home, Touring exhibition (UK + GCC)
2017 Behind The Portrait, Gulf Photo Plus (Dubai)
2016 Future Narratives, La Ira de Dios (Buenos Aries)
2015 The Devil May Care, The Noorderlicht Photogallery (The Hague)
2014 Recreational Purpose, Bahrain National Museum (Bahrain)
2014 SCHAU Festival (Dortmund)
2013 I Bought This For The Cover, Cob Gallery (London)
2013 Alwan 338, Al Riwaq Art Space (Bahrain)
2011 Documenting Muharraq, Bin Mattar House (Bahrain)
TALKS
2024 Artist Talk | Open Studio, Tokyo Arts and Space ( Tokyo)
2019 Artist Talk | Baraza, Swahili Studies Conference, School of Oriental
and African Studies (SOAS) University, London
2019 Gallery Talk | 50 Golborne Gallery, London
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2024 Avaissance Artist-in-Residence with Aaron Huey (Online, Season 2)
2024 Toyko Arts and Space (TOKAS), Tokyo
2016 Future Narratives curated by Juliana Gontijo - La Ira de Dios, Buenos Aries
PUBLICATIONS
2023 Pictures & Songs published by Booooooom
2022 Who We Are 200 - Special Edition published by Setanta Books.
2022 Kinfolk Travel: Slower Ways to See the World
2019 Succession (Artist Book)
2016 The Next 100: BMW Group book
2014 Recreational Purpose: Exhibition catalogue. Bahrain National Museum
2012 Background: Exhibition catalogue. Bahrain’s National Participation in the
13th international architecture exhibition at the La Biennale de Venezia
INVITATIONS
2018 Plat(t)form, Fotomuseum Winterthur (Switzerland)
RECOGNITIONS
2024 Winner, 24th Reminders Photography Stronghold Grant
2023 Nominated, C/O Berlin Talent Award 2024
2022 Shortlisted, PRIX BMW ART MAKERS 2023
2020 Winner (Single Image), Female in Focus Award, British Journal of Photography
2018 Shortlisted, Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize
2016 Shortlisted, European Photo Award
2013 Nominated, Foam Paul Huf Award
SELECTED CLIENTS & COMMISSIONS
The Institut de Monde Arabe, Amouage, BMW, Kinfolk, HAPAX, Ffotogallery Wales, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), The Standard Hotel, Selfridges
PRESS
Dazed
LVL3
Khamsa
Artsy
Booooooom
It’s Nice That
Der Greif Artist Feature & Artist Blog
Booooooom
Fish Eye Magazine, Part 1 & Part 2
CNN Style
The Guardian
AnOther Magazine
Harper’s Bazaar Arabia
L'OEil de la Photographie
PhMuseum
© 2024 Eman Ali. All rights reserved.