About

Zahra grew up in two deserts which vary drastically and have many similarities in culture. One close to the sea, the other close to the mountains. She studied the visual arts in France, and continues various pursuits to further educate herself. She currently lives in the Barelas neighborhood of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and works in her studio at the Harwood Art Center, where she incorporates Kuwaiti tendencies into her daily life.

Upcoming Book:

Where Butterflies Fill the Sky | Bloomsbury Publishing NYC

Honored to have created work for

National Hispanic Cultural Center (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Art in US Embassies Program – US Department of State
Éditions du Seuil + Institut du Monde Arabe (Paris, France)
Concha Jareño Dance Company (Madrid, Spain)
Radio Al-Hara, Civil Architects (Kuwait | Bahrain)
National Institute of Flamenco Arts (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Circus Luminous–Wise Fool New Mexico (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
American Science Magazine | Oloom Magazine (Kuwait, Kuwait)

Awards + Honors 2021

Artist-in-Residence | collaboration with Printer Brian Wagner at Tamarind Institute
Albuquerque, New Mexico
May 2021

Creative Bravos Award awarded by City of Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
January 2021

Awards + Honors 2020

Acquisition into Bernalillo County Public Art Collection

Selected artist for Tamarind Institute Public Art Lithography Commission
in partnership with the City of Albuquerque

Longlisted Artist —  dPictus Unpublished picture book showcase

Awards + Honors 2019

Frankfurt Book Fair | Unpublished Picturebook Showcase Feature
Frankfurt, Germany

AOI World Illustration Awards | Shortlisted Artist
London, England

Artist-in-Residence at
Sheikh Abdullah Al–Salem Cultural Centre
Salmiya, Kuwait    |     March — May

Awards + Honors 2018

Los Angeles Portfolio Mentorship Award [scbwi]
Los Angeles, California

Women and Creativity Shine Award
Albuquerque, New Mexico

City of Albuquerque Art Collection Purchase
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Awards 2017

Makers Muse Award, Kindle Project
An international award given to 8 artists.

Exhibits 2021

Compass Roses: Maps by Artists | In collaboration with the City of Albuquerque
South Broadway Cultural Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico
22 April 2021

Tamarind Institute Art Residency
Albuquerque, New Mexico
3 May – 14 May 2021

Tamarind Institute Public Art Lithography Reception and Signing
Albuquerque, New Mexico
July 2021

Crocodile Tobacco Flowers | Fragile Masculinity
Harwood Art Center Front Gallery
Albuquerque, New Mexico
September 2021

Exhibits 2020

Watermelon after Lunch
Middle East Now Film Festival
Florence, Italy
31 March 2020 (Postponed, Coronavirus)

Standing Mobility
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Centre
Salmiya, Kuwait
20 April, 2020 (Postponed, Coronavirus)

Bologna Book Fair
dPICTUS Unpublished Picturebook Showcase Feature
Bologna, Italy
4 – 7 May 2020 (Postponed, Coronavirus)

City of Albuquerque Open Space Gallery
Albuquerque, New Mexico
16 May 2020 (Postponed, Coronavirus)

Museum at Home – The Resilience Project
516Arts

Art Installation | Windows in the Future
Organized by 516 Arts, Vital Spaces, Paseo Project
Albuquerque | Santa Fe | Taos
July 2020

International Balloon Museum–Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque
Exhibit and Balloon Fiesta Accompaniment
Albuquerque, New Mexico
September 2020

Albuquerque Art Museum
Large-Format Artist–ArtsThrive Annual Exhibit
Albuquerque, New Mexico
October 2020

Exhibits 2019

City of Santa Fe Art’s Commission Gallery
Silk Purse | Sow’s Ear     March 15, 2019
Santa Fe, New Mexico

What’s Your Street Race | Identity as Perceived by Authority
Projection in Vacant Lot      Barelas, Albuquerque, New Mexico
April 4, 2019

DAI Museum, Yarmouk Cultural Centre | Abolish 153 annual Exhibit
Yarmouk, Kuwait    April 27, 2019

Zeri Crafts  |  Open House, Selected Works
Salmiya, Kuwait   April 29 + 30, 2019

Erna Fergusson Library | Enchantment Show
Albuquerque, New Mexico June 8, 2019

Venice Art Factory + Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre
Group Exhibit : Schola dell’Arte dei Tiraoro e Battioro
Venice, Italy    June 2019

Somerset House | London, England
AOI Exhibit — Shortlisted Illustrations
July 11-28

Albuquerque Zine Fest | National Hispanic Cultural Center
October 5, 2019

ArtsThrive: Albuquerque Art Museum
October 20, 2019

Dia de los Muertos Exhibit
South Broadway Cultural Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico   November 2, 2019

Fish in Persian Gardens | Poetry and Literature as Revolt
Solo Exhibit   Sanitary Tortilla Factory
Albuquerque, New Mexico     December 2019

Exhibits 2018

Harwood Art Center, January 2018
Solo Exhibit, When Life Becomes Floral

THE Magazine Contemporary Art + Culture
3 image series, February thru April. Santa Fe, New Mexico

Zendo, February 2018
Solo Exhibit, Oddities of Day to Day Life

A RIVER FLOWING: Contemporary Women Artists
East of West Gallery, February 23, 2018
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Abolish 153 April 14, 2018
HUB Gallery. Al-Sharq, Kuwait

Because it’s Time: Unraveling Race and Place in NM
National Hispanic Cultural Center Art Museum, May 4, 2018
Group Exhibit

Vamos Al Museo, Museum talk + Workshop
National Hispanic Cultural Center, May 5, 2018

Reflections on Studying Dance, September 22, 2018
Maple Street Dance Studio, Albuquerque, New Mexico

ArtsThrive: Albuquerque Art Museum
October 20, 2018

South Broadway Cultural Center
Dia de los Muertos Group Show
October 28, 2018

Prelude
Featuring the work of ten renowned artists from
New Mexico by Invitation
Harwood Art Center
November 19, 2018

12 x 12 Exhibit
Fundraiser Exhibit
Harwood Art Center
December 1, 2018

New Mexico Cancer Center
December 7, 2018
Sales supporting income of patients

Exhibits 2017

Solo Exhibit.
On Dreams and Memories. El Chante Casa de Cultura. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dual Show: Zahra Marwan + Kat Kinnick. (June).
Ruminations and Remnants. Rio Grande Community Farm. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dual Show: Zahra Marwan + Kat Kinnick. (August).
Ruminations and Remnants. Stranger’s Collective. Santa Fe, New Mexico

Contemporary 2017: Retellings. Juried Show.
Western Colorado Center for the Arts Grand Junction, Colorado

Albuquerque Art Museum. ArtsThrive Juried Exhibit
3 pieces selected. Albuquerque, New Mexico

New Mexico Cancer Center: Artists on the Rise. Juried show, 8 pieces selected
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Form and Concept Gallery Show. Guns to Art Benefit Show.
Santa Fe, New Mexico