Women’s Agency in Arab Art: Kinship, Education, and Political Activism
Curated by Wafa Roz

Text written by Dr. Boushra Batlouni
Content Edited by Wafa Roz (Director of DAF)                                                                     

Introduction: Main Curatorial Theme

The exhibition Women’s Agency in Arab Art investigates women’s contributions to the Arab art world through the lenses of kinship, education, and political activism. It sheds light on their capacity to make individualized choices and take actions that reflect their genuine needs, desires, and perspectives within their specific contexts. Despite their varied historical and geographical circumstances, these women challenged the limitations imposed by society and culture on their gender, believing in the power of art, education, and non-violent resistance.

Women’s Agency in Arab Art focuses on women artists born between 1905 and 1948. Some were wives or siblings of renowned artists or daughters significant political figures; their family ties often shaped, influenced, or informed their artistic production and engagement across political discourse and action. The exhibition features women artists from, or connected to, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and Morocco.

Arab women artists played a crucial role in shaping the evolution of visual arts, using it not only as a reflection of their time but also as a powerful tool for enacting change. Many of these women were foundational figures in the art education sector. Others contributed to or witnessed the emergence of significant modern art movements and collectives in the Arab world, such as the Baghdad Group for Modern Art, the School of Casablanca, Art et Liberté, the Contemporary Art Group in Egypt, the New Vision Group in Palestine, and the Hurufiyyah movement.

Their personal journeys and artistic practices provide an essential perspective on the affordances and limitations faced by Arab women, primarily during each country's post-independence and post-colonial nation-building periods, and highlight how the challenges they have faced continue to resonate within the contemporary environment. The broader significance of their contributions becomes clear through the intersections of the artists’ personal relationships, societal status, political activism, and educational roles. This exhibition serves as a reminder to acknowledge their agency and activism as they forged unique paths and helped shape the modern Arab art world.

The text below highlights the achievements and paths of some women artists featured in this exhibition. It shows how their relationships and choices were shaped by their context, the relationships they prioritized, and how these affected the development of their artistic and personal journeys.

Organized by the Dalloul Art Foundation (DAF), and the Institute of Art in theArab World (IAAW) at the School of Architecture and Design, LAU, in Beirut

The exhibition Women’s Agency in Arab Art ( Extended) , will be showcased at DAF premises during the month of May ( Date , TBD) - Stay tuned !