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ZIAD AL NAJJAR


Ziadkalnajjar@gmail.com
Ziadalnajjar.com
B. 2001, Dubai, U.A.E.

Based in Dubai, U.A.E.



Education


2023   School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL - Bachelors of Fine Art in Studio Practices (BFA)


Awards


2018-2023 Creative Honors Scholarship, Undergraduate, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2018-2023 Scholarship, Undergraduate, UAE Ministry of Higher Education, United Arab Emirates


Solo & Two-Person Exhibitions 


2023    Symbiotic: Hyperreal (with Talal Al Najjar, curated by Tala Nassar) NYUAD  Project Space, Abu Dhabi, UAE 
2023    Under Your Eyes, Tabari Artspace, Dubai, UAE
2021     Labyrinth, Bawa Gallery, Kuwait


Group Exhibitions


2026   Same Air, Tabari Artspace, Dubai, UAE
2026   Looped Futures, Artemis Gallery, Lisbon Portugal

2025   Observers of Change, Etihad Museum, Barjeel Art Foundation, Dubai, UAE

2025   Mirage, Erth, Abu Dhabi Art Fair 17th Edition - Abu Dhabi, UAE

2025    Off Script, Al Multaqa Literary Salon - Abu Dhabi, UAE

2025    The Boys are Alright, Bayt Al Mamzar - Dubai, UAE

2024    Tracing the Murmurs, Abu Dhabi Art Fair 16th Edition - Abu Dhabi, UAE

2024   The Art of Living, Architectural Digest - Abu Dhabi, UAE 

2023   Postmordial Soup, ICD Brookfield - Dubai, UAE

2023   On the Nature of Things, Sulk Chicago - Chicago, IL, USA

2023   Art Dubai - Dubai, UAE

2022   Selected Ambient Works – Vol. 0 - Chicago, IL, USA

2022   Collective Consciousness - Dubai, UAE

2022   Sikka Art Festival - Dubai UAE

2020   Waw.exhibit, Maisan15 - Dubai, UAE

2020   Magic - Chicago, IL, USA

2019    Art Bash, School of the Art Institute of Chicago - Chicago, IL, USA


Permanent Collections

Barjeel Art Foundation 
LVMH Collection 

ICD Brookfield


Selected Bibliography


2025 Dubai PR Hub (Dubai Culture x Barjeel Art Foundation), Observers of Change Documents Five Decades of Art from UAE https://dubaiprhub.com/observers-of-change-documents-five-decades-of-art-from-uae/
The Sandy Times, The Boys Are Alright — Or Are They? In Conversation With Jumairy by Alexandra Mansilla https://sandytimes.ae/articles/3114/the-boys-are-alright--or-are-they-in-conversation-with-jumairy
GQ Middle East, Bayt AlMamzar’s The Boys Are AlrightExhibition Explores Emirati Boyhood, by Fatima AlJarman https://www.gqmiddleeast.com/article/bayt-almamzars-the-boys-are-alright-exhibition-explores-emirati-boyhood
Hadara Magazine, In the Studio with Talal and Ziad Al Najjar, by Rahel Aima https://hadaramagazine.com/in-the-studio-with-talal-and-ziad-al-najjar/
2024 Modern Icons, The 2nd edition of the Ricahrd Mille Art Book series, Louvre Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 2024
2023 Canvas Magazine, The Root of It All, Issue 108, Print & Digital, United Arab             Emirates, https://read.canvasonline.com/product/issue-108/
2023 https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/art-design/2023/03/04/young-generation-of-gulf-artists-present-new-arab-narratives-at-art-dubai/
2023 https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/art-design/2023/01/15/emerging-emirati-artists-first-exhibition-is-an-organic-journey-of-intuition-and-colour/
2023 https://www.luxhabitat.ae/the-journal/in-the-studio-ziad-al-najjar/
2023 https://gulfnews.com/friday/art-people/7-must-visit-art-exhibitions-in-dubai-to-see-in-january-1.1673449757544
2023    https://whatson.ae/2023/01/8-great-art-exhibitions-in-dubai-to-check-out-this-january/
2021     Canvas Magazine, The Future Is Bright, Issue 97, Print & Digital, United Arab Emirates,https://read.canvasonline.com/product/issue-97/
2021     Exhibition discovers talents of new artists, Gulf Today, Online article, United    Arabs Emirates, https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2021/01/09/exhibition-discovers-talents-of-new-artists
2020     Nine-01: Young Emirati artists transform mall space into art studio, The National, Arts & Culture, Newspaper article/available online, United Arab Emirates,https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/art/nine-01-young-emirati-artists- transform-mall-space-into-art-studio-1.1063975



Professional Experience


Sheikha Salama Emerging Artist Fellowship (SEAF), Fellow
2024 - 2025, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Currently a fellow in the Sheikha Salama Emerging Artist Fellowship (SEAF), a 10-month competitive program focused on supporting the professional growth of emerging artists through mentorship, critical engagement, and interdisciplinary artistic development.


Gallery Collectional, Creative Specialist 
2023, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 
Appointed creative specialist with responsibilities in creative strategy, communications, exhibition organization, and curation. 

Heaven Gallery, Intern
2021, Chicago, Illinois
Maintained a strong and consistent presence in all aspects of gallery work, which led to gaining practical experience in gallery administration, exhibition setup, curation, sales, event planning, and exhibition submission management.

Nine-01, Artist Studio
2020 – 2021, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 
Co-founder,
Activated a vacant commercial space into an artist studio in Galleria Mall Al Barsha in Dubai. Collaborated with three artists who dedicated eight months to activating the space, Facilitating studio visits, gatherings, and collaborationwith fellow artists