Artists
Bio
Ahmed Umar (b. 1988, Sudan) is a cross-disciplinary artist living and working in Oslo. He received his MFA degree in medium- and material-based art from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts in 2016. Through his art, Umar has also been an important front figure for queer persons with Muslim backgrounds in Norway and Sudan.
Ahmed Umar
Selected Works
Sudanese traditional women “Thoub” embroidered with traditional Norwegian Hallingroser in Khayamia, Egyptian tent embroidery style.
4.5 x 1.25 m
4.5 x 1.25 m
Bergen Kunsthall, Norway
Installation image (photo: Thor Brødreskift)
Bergen Kunsthall, Norway
Installation image (photo: Thor Brødreskift)
Bergen Kunsthall, Norway
Installation image (photo: Thor Brødreskift)
Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway
Installation image (photo: Uli Holz)
Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway
Installation image (photo: Uli Holz)
Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway
Installation image (photo: Uli Holz)
Eight portraits: photographs and interviews
Parallel to Umar’s growing popularity as the face of the Sudanese LGBT community, animosity toward him also kept growing. There is a Sudanese saying, “carrying the face of ugliness”, that is typically used to describe someone who does something unfamiliar, confronts
an issue and takes the blame for it. In this particular case, the saying represents being gay. Umar completed the photo project in Sudan and shows Umar in photographs with other Sudanese LGBT where Umar’s face covers their identity. The photographs from the project were made into murals in Oct. 2022 and can be seen at the Oslo Central Station, Oslo Airport and Ski Station.
Eight portraits: photographs and interviews
Parallel to Umar’s growing popularity as the face of the Sudanese LGBT community, animosity toward him also kept growing. There is a Sudanese saying, “carrying the face of ugliness”, that is typically used to describe someone who does something unfamiliar, confronts
an issue and takes the blame for it. In this particular case, the saying represents being gay. Umar completed the photo project in Sudan and shows Umar in photographs with other Sudanese LGBT where Umar’s face covers their identity. The photographs from the project were made into murals in Oct. 2022 and can be seen at the Oslo Central Station, Oslo Airport and Ski Station.
Eight portraits: photographs and interviews
Parallel to Umar’s growing popularity as the face of the Sudanese LGBT community, animosity toward him also kept growing. There is a Sudanese saying, “carrying the face of ugliness”, that is typically used to describe someone who does something unfamiliar, confronts
an issue and takes the blame for it. In this particular case, the saying represents being gay. Umar completed the photo project in Sudan and shows Umar in photographs with other Sudanese LGBT where Umar’s face covers their identity. The photographs from the project were made into murals in Oct. 2022 and can be seen at the Oslo Central Station, Oslo Airport and Ski Station.
128 cm x 270 cm x 190 cm
Part of Nasjonalmuseet collection
(photo: Annar Bjorgli)
128 cm x 270 cm x 190 cm
Part of Nasjonalmuseet collection
(photo: Annar Bjorgli)
128 cm x 270 cm x 190 cm
Part of Nasjonalmuseet collection
(photo: Annar Bjorgli)
CV
Education
2014-2016
MFA Medium and Material-based Arts. Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway
2015
MFA Exchange. ESAA - École Duperré, Fashion Design. Paris, France
2011-2014
BFA Medium and Material-based Arts: Printmaking. Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway
Solo exhibitions
2023
Glowing Phalanges. Bergen Kunsthall, Bergen Norway
Talitin - تَالِـﺘﻦ - The Third. Lorck Schive Art Award 2023 Exhibition. Trondheim Kunstmuseum, Norge (Solo exhibition within a group show exhibiting the four nominees).
Glowing Phalanges. Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway
2022
Carrying the face of ugliness. Oslo Central Station, Oslo Airport and Ski Train Station
2021
In God’s hand. Hå Gamle Prestegard, Nærbo, Norway
2020
Forbidden Prayers. Konsthantverkarna, Stocklom, Sweden
2019
Mending! Østfold Art Center, Fredrikstad, Norway
Glowing Phalanges: a Prayer for Each Phalang in My Right Hand. KRAFT, Bergen, Norway
Hijab (Spurious). BOA - The Association of Visual Artists Oslo and Akershus, Norway
2018
Carrying the face of ugliness. Kunstplass Contemporary Art, Oslo, Norway
Selected group exhibitions
2024
Toronto Biennial of Art 2024 (Upcoming)
2022
We come from the other side. The Palace of Nations, Geneve, Switzerland
Fargerike fellesskap – kvitt raseri. The Valdres Folkemuseum, Fagernes, Norway
Invocation - ُرقية . a solo exhibition during Ibrahim EI-Salahi exhibition. Tegnerforbundet - The Norwegian Drawing Center, Oslo, Norway
The Hands That Unravel The Sweater. North Norwegian Art Center, Svolvær, Norway
Claiming Space, Fotogalleriet, Oslo, Norway
2021
Call Me by My Name. MUNCH, Oslo, Norway
To You. Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium, Vestfossen, Norway
Glowing Phalanges: Prayer Beads 33. Nominees Exhibition for the Sandefjord Kunstforening Art Award. Sandefjord Kunstforening, Norway
2020
The Biennale of Sydney - NIRIN. Sydney, Australia
A Collection in the Making. The National Museum of Norway, Oslo, Norway
4+4. Kunsthall Grenland, Porsgrunn, Norway
2019
Everyone Says Hello. Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo, Norway
Stumbling is not Falling. ArtX, New York City, USA
Hanne Ryggen Triennial - New Land. National Museum of Decorative Arts, Trondheim, Norway
KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU. Künstlerhaus Palais Thurn und Taxis, Bregenz, Austria
2018
Det Felles Eide. Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway
2017
20th Century! Objects for Modern Life. Permanent Exhibition. Drammen
Museum of Art and Cultural History, Norway
Kunsthåndverk 2017, Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts Annual Exhibition, National Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, Trondheim, Norway
Tribute to Ali. Performance. Galleri Format, Oslo, Norway
Resilience. Galleri Format, Oslo, Norway
Art Fair Suomi. Helsinki, Finland
Mina / Meg. Collaboration with Zanele Muholi (ZA). Galleri Kit, Trondheim, Norway
Public Collections
The National Museum of Norway, Oslo, Norway
National Museum of Decorative Arts, Trondheim, Norway
SKMU Sørlandets Kunstmuseum, Kristiansand, Norway
Sogn og Fjordane Kunstmuseum, Førde, Norway
Drammen Museum of Art and History, Norway
Oslo Municipality Art Collection, Norway
KORO - the New Government Quarters, Oslo, Norway
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - the Embassy of Norway in Khartoum, Sudan
OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway
Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium, Norway
Recognition
2022
Jury Member, Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts Annual Exhibition Award
Mention in The New National Museum by Audun Vinger
Contributer to This Arab is Queer: an Anthology by LGBTQ+ Arab Writers, ed. Elias Jahshan
The Art of Sin. A documentary film about Ahmen Umavr’s life made in collaboration with film-maker Ibrahim Mursal. Screened in ICA London, L’institute de Monde Arabe Paris and others. Recipient of the Nordic/Docs - Best Medium Length Documentary Award 2020
2021
Kunstnerliv. Documentary show, NRK, Norway
ArtEX Talent Program TalentNorge, Norway
Jury Member, Eckbos Legat Jubileum Exhibition and Stipend
Jury Member, The 134th Annual Autumn Exhibition Kistefos Award, Norway
Nominee for Sandefjord Kunstforening Art Award 2021
1-year artist’s working grant, Arts Council Norway
2018
3-years Young and Newly Established Artist’s Working Grant, Arts Council Norway
Atelier Kunstnerforbundet Studio Residency, 2 years, Oslo, Norway
NOoSPHERE Artist Residency Award, New York City, USA
Scheibler Foundation Art and Craft Award 2018
2017
Debutante Award, Kunsthåndverk 2017, Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts Annual Exhibition
Miscellaneous Grant, Arts Council Norway
2016
The Art Student Grant from BKH - The Norwegian Relief Fund for Visual Artists
Miscellaneous Grant, Arts Council Norway
News
Ahmed Umar
Ahmed Umar will be part of the upcoming Toronto Biennial of Art 2024, alongside artist Sonja Boyce and Cecilia Vicuña among others. The Biennial is curated by Dominique Fontaine and Miguel A. López, and will take place between 21.09.2024 - 01.12.2024
04.12 - 01.12.23