Nada Baraka Egyptian, b. 1990
Nada Baraka's work exists in a state of flux, oscillating between abstraction and surrealism in her paintings and installations. At its core, her process narrates experiences through expressionist and surrealist methods, where visceral forms gain ever-changing contexts to challenge the obvious and extract meaning from absurdity.
Currently, her focus is on the diverse personal archive of her late grandfather, Egypt's former Minister of Irrigation, engaging with site-specific presentations that explore the decontextualisation of archival materials and spaces.
Themes of connecting past and present, reflecting on social environments, and examining private versus public material underlie her work.
Based in Egypt, Baraka holds a BA in Visual Art from the American University in Cairo and an MA from Central Saint Martins, London. She has exhibited widely, with solo shows in Cairo and international group exhibitions. In 2023, she received the Anna Award from Latitudes Online and launched The Valley of Walls, selected for an Apex Art exhibition.
EDUCATION
2012-2014, MA Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, London
2007-2011, BA Fine Art at The American University of Cairo, Cairo
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
2025, Across A Velvet Horizon, Tabari Artspace, Dubai, UAE
2024, Long Story Short, Gypsum Gallery, Cairo, Egypt
2024, The Light between, What If The World Gallery, Cape Town, SA
2023, The Valley of Walls, Ahmed Ali Kamal Residence, Apex art exhibition, Cairo, Egypt
2022, Fission, Goethe Institute, Cairo, Egypt
2019, Tea Time With My Lungs, Soma Art Gallery, Cairo, Egypt
2017, Paper Trail, Gypsum gallery, Cairo, Egypt
2016, A season in Hell, Gypsum gallery, Cairo, Egypt
2016, Les Négligences Volontaires, Shanaynay, Paris, France
2016, Mohamed Abla’s Painting Exhibition, Greek Campus, Cairo, Egypt
2015, Roznama, Contemporary Image Collective, Cairo, Egypt
2015, Naema’s Office is Bleeding, Medrar, Cairo, Egypt
2014, Mohamed Abla Painting Competition, Opera House, Cairo, Egypt
2014, Opera Youth Salon 25th, Opera House, Cairo, Egypt
2013-2014, Roznama, Medrar, Cairo, Mostra, Lisbon, Portugal
2013, Stop it, Postgraduate Degree show, Lethaby, London, UK
2013, CSM Auction Exhibition, Lethaby, London, UK
2013, First Come First Served, Lion x Lamb, London, UK
2013, Intransit, V22, London, UK
2012, FA VIP, ARTFAIR, New York, US
2012, Parallel Visions, Darb 1718, Cairo, Egypt
2012, 470 Parallel, Sharjah, Cairo, Egypt
2011, Annual Youth Salon, Opera house, Cairo, Egypt
ART FAIRS
2024, Solo Booth at Latitudes RMB Art Fair, Johannesburg, SA
2023, Le Lab x Gypsum Gallery, The Grand Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt
2017, Cairo Art Fair, Artsmart, Cairo, Egypt
AWARDS
2023, THE ANNA Award, Latitudes online, Johannesburg, SA
2015, Mohamed Abla’s Painting Award, Cairo, Egypt
AUCTIONS
2024, Curatorial Voices: African Landscapes, Past and Present, Strauss and Co.
BIENNALES
2016, Something Else, Off Biennale at Darb 1718, Cairo, Egypt
GRANTS
2023, Open Call Exhibition, Apex Art, New York, US
RESIDENCIES
2017, Do-it بالعربي "Dwell Workshop with architect Ahmed Zazaa at Townhouse Factory, Cairo, Egypt
