Artist Amina Yahia’s work merges ideas of human interaction with folkloric and systematic influences on belief and behavior. Yahia is interested in topics such as socially-influenced behavior and the ritualistic–almost spiritual–aspect that is a result of its repetitiveness. Her large-scale paintings are rooted in post & neocolonial Egyptian society. The female identity is central to her practice, which she often depicts vis-à-vis portrayals of control systems and reflections of the self. Yahia’s figures, of- ten life-sized, have an underlying satirical nature to them. Her narratives are habitually in search of dissecting the uncanny, banal, intimate, violent, and sensual of the body together with the remnants of cultural embeddedness within bodily movement and function.
Yahia received her BA from New York University and has shown her work at several institutional and commercial exhibitions.
Group exhibition record
2023 GEN-Z DIS/CONNECTED VIEW, Shelter Art Space, Alexandria, Egypt
Roznama 9, Medrar, Cairo, Egypt
Hunna - Elles - هُنَّ, Million Auction House, Paris, France
Pump, Tahrir Cultural Center (AUC), Cairo, Egypt
2022 In Vivo, The Cube at NYU Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
EYES WIDE SHUT, Firetti Contemporary, Dubai, UAE
2021 As We Gaze Upon Her, 421.online, Abu Dhabi, UAE
The Disappearing Art Show, Gulf Photo Plus, Dubai, UAE
This lark sips at every pond: women as artist and muse, Maisan15, Dubai, UAE
Public Events, Projects and Workshops
2023 Speaker at GEN-Z
2023 Assistant Muralist for adiclub
2023 Aldau Inaugural Women Symposium, Hurghada, Egypt
Get in touch!
"As We Gaze Upon Her", exhibition catalogue, Warehouse 421, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2021.
Cappelletto, Niccolò Acram. “Woman as a Noun, and a Practice: ‘as We Gaze upon Her’ at warehouse421 - Global Art Daily E.” Woman as a Noun, and a Practice: “As We Gaze Upon Her” at Warehouse421, 16 Nov. 2021, https://e-issues.globalartdaily.com/Woman-as-a-Noun-and-a-Practice-As-We-Gaze-Upon-Her-at-Warehouse421.
“Eyes Wide Shut.” 2022, firetticontemporary.com/usr/documents/exhibitions/press_release_url/15/eyes-wide-shut-firetti-contemporary-pr-.pdf.
Khan, Shaistha. “Abu Dhabi Exhibition Reflects Conversations on Feminism in the Region.” Abu Dhabi Exhibition Reflects Conversations on Feminism in the Region, Women’s Media Center, 9 Dec. 2021, https://womensmediacenter.com/news-features/abu-dhabi-exhibition-reflects-conversations-on-feminism-in-the-region.
Sinha, Vamika. “Dubai Exhibition Eyes Wide Shut Explores Female Trauma and Healing.” The National, www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/art/2022/06/13/dubai-exhibition-eyes-wide-shut-explores-female-trauma-and-healing/.
Sinha, Vamika. “YOUNG VOICES FROM ABU DHABI.” 2021, https://www.carbon12.art/usr/documents/press/download_url/521/young-voices-.pdf.