
Eman Ali is an Omani-Bahraini visual artist working across photography, AI, sculpture, text, installation, and sound. Based between Bahrain, Oman, and Kenya, her practice investigates the shifting relationships between visibility and erasure, intimacy and distance, history and the present.
Ali’s work examines how memory, gender, and power shape visual and cultural narratives over time. Through research and image-making, she challenges systems of representation, navigating the space between documentation and speculation. Longing - whether for connection, belonging, or lost histories - runs through her work, shaping her engagement with both personal and collective memory.
Ali’s practice resists fixed conclusions, moving fluidly between reality and fiction, record and imagination. Positioned as both an inquiry and a site of reinvention, her work disrupts dominant narratives, inviting a reconsideration of the systems that define what is seen, remembered, and ultimately forgotten.
Represented by 50 Golborne Gallery + Hunna Art
Member of Women Photograph
LIMITED EDITION PRINTS, COMMISSIONS, IMAGE LICENSING
info@emanali.com
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PRESS
Nataal
Dazed MENA
The Art Momentum
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
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 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 How To Build A Lagoon With Just A Bottle Of Wine, Lagos Biennial II (Nigeria) - Curated by Antawan Byrd, Tosin Oshinowo, and Oyinda Fakeye
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
2025 Panel Discussion | Softness and Sculpture - Moderated by Sarah Foryame, Tuwaiq Sculpture (Riyadh)
2024 Artist Talk | Open Studio, Tokyo Arts and Space ( Tokyo)
2024 Artist Talk | Reminders Photography Stronghold Gallery ( Tokyo)
2019 Artist Talk | Baraza, Swahili Studies Conference, School of Oriental
and African Studies (SOAS) University (London)
2019 Artist Talk | In Conversation with Elsbeth Court, 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
2017 Royal College of Art, MA Photography (UK)
2008 Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design,
BA Graphic Design (UK)
ART FAIRS
2025 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 How To Build A Lagoon With Just A Bottle Of Wine, Lagos Biennial II (Nigeria) - Curated by Antawan Byrd, Tosin Oshinowo, and Oyinda Fakeye
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
2025 Panel Discussion | Softness and Sculpture - Moderated by Sarah Foryame, Tuwaiq Sculpture (Riyadh)
2024 Artist Talk | Open Studio, Tokyo Arts and Space ( Tokyo)
2024 Artist Talk | Reminders Photography Stronghold Gallery ( Tokyo)
2019 Artist Talk | Baraza, Swahili Studies Conference, School of Oriental
and African Studies (SOAS) University (London)
2019 Artist Talk | In Conversation with Elsbeth Court, 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
© 2025 Eman Ali. All rights reserved.