FEATURED ARTIST OF THE MONTH

Featured Artist Dahlia Abdelilah(Sudan)

My artwork explores social, cultural, and gender issues by figurative paintings that employ themes of femininity mixed with fantasy. With influences as diverse as Kamala Ishaq first woman painter in Sudan, Ibrahim El-Salahi, and Andy Warhol new insights are generated from both western and national art.

I began painting as a way of dealing with family matters, relationships and social limitations that we, as women, face on a daily basis. I find ease in colors by turning concerns into soothing palette. As a self-taught artist; I continue to develop new techniques to express my ideas better and explore art through different mediums such as black & white illustrations, digital art, conceptual art, mixed media and mainly oil paint. My art aims to convey feminine sexuality, embrace women and relationship between genders.

EXPERIENCE

Artist | Khartoum, Sudan | 2015 – TO PRESENT

Art Assistant | Khartoum International Community School – Khartoum, Sudan | 2019 – TO PRESENT

  • Curating Art shows:
  • Curated exhibition for 20+ Sudanese artists (local & abroad living artists) to celebrate Sudanese Art; sold 60% of paintings,
  • Assisted in curating “Sudan Contemporary Art” exhibition in the memory of Sudanese artist Ahmed El-Sharief,
  • Assist in preparing teaching materials, prepare art lessons,
  • Arrange hosting local artist monthly in art lessons to engage and share experiences school wide

Graphic Designer | OVCI La Nostra Famiglia & Usratuna Sudanese Association for Children with

Disabilities – Omdurman, Sudan | April 2016 – December 2017

  • Designed organization’s informative materials; brochures, guidebooks, as well as events materials; banners, flyers, posters, designed catalogs of products that made by vocational training students,
  • Organize fundraising events, workshops and awareness campaigns, in addition to documentation, photo processing and video production.

WORKSHOPS & TRAINING

  • The Modern & Postmodern, Online Course by Wesleyan University – Khartoum, 2020
  • What is Contemporary Art? Online course by MoMA – Khartoum, 2020
  • Modern Art & Ideas, Online course by MoMA – Khartoum, 2020
  • European Paintings: From Leonardo to Rembrandt to Goya, Online course
  • Portrait drawing workshop, Gunied Cultural Center – Khartoum, 2018
  • Conflict Resolution & Peace-Building workshop to utilize Art in social change, Safer World Organization – Nairobi, 2016
  • ANA LAN (I Will Not) for Zero tolerance to FGM in Sudan Art workshop – Khartoum, 2015
  • Rural Extension Development: facilitated art workshop to raise awareness on health problems in rural communities, designed visual aid posters due to lack of technical support and encourage young females to be involved – Qadarief, 2012

EXHIBTIONS

  • 2020: “Art in Isolation” exhibition, Middle East Institute, Washington DC
  • 2020: Group Exhibition “L’effet Papillon” French Cultural Center, Khartoum
  • 2020: Group Exhibition “Sudan Week” KICS, Khartoum
  • 2019: Group Exhibition “Sudan Contemporary Art” KICS, Khartoum
  • 2019: Group Exhibition “Blanc et Noir” French Cultural Center, Khartoum
  • 2018: Group Exhibition “Conversation” French Cultural Center, Khartoum, Sudan
  • 2018: Group Exhibition “Sudanese Female Artists”/ Women’s week, Khartoum Applied College, Khartoum, Sudan
  • 2017: Group Exhibition “Women in Art”, Gunied Cultural Center, Khartoum, Sudan