Ghada Amer

Ghada Amer is best known for her large-scale, hand-embroidered paintings of seemingly abstract lines that resolve into repetitive patterns of highly erotic figures and scenes. Born in Cairo, Egypt, raised in France from the age of 11, and currently living and working in New York, Amer's practice is very much grounded in both the Muslim and the Western World. By exploring the differences between the two, she is able to unveil universal truths that are prevalent in all cultures, including the oppression of women, the incomprehensibility of love, the foolishness of war, and an overall quest for beauty.

Widely acclaimed when they debuted at the 2000 Whitney Biennial, Amer's paintings subvert the male-dominated language of Abstract Expressionism by embroidering iconic works from that period with images appropriated from pornographic magazines and Disney films. This combination forces an examination of women's role in Western and Islamic culture.

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Articles

The Artspace Art for Life Interview with Valeria Napoleone
The Artspace Art for Life Interview with Valeria Napoleone
A Q&A with Ghada Amer
A Q&A with Ghada Amer
113 Artists on the Cutting-Edge of Textile Art
113 Artists on the Cutting-Edge of Textile Art
7 Artists to Watch April 2018
7 Artists to Watch April 2018
10 Art Documentaries to Binge Watch
10 Art Documentaries to Binge Watch
13 Fashion Looks That Uncannily Resemble Artworks
13 Fashion Looks That Uncannily Resemble Artworks
What You Need to Know About NYC's Summer Shows
What You Need to Know About NYC's Summer Shows
10 of the Best Artworks at Frieze New York 2016
10 of the Best Artworks at Frieze New York 2016
A Few Questions for Fanny Allié
A Few Questions for Fanny Allié
Ghada Amer on Experimenting With an Ancient Art
Ghada Amer on Experimenting With an Ancient Art
The Most Compelling Artists to Follow on Instagram
The Most Compelling Artists to Follow on Instagram