Ahmed Umar
Contemporary Artist
About
Ahmed Umar (Arabic: أحمد عمر, born 10 February 1988) is a Sudanese-Norwegian visual artist and LGBT activist.
He grew up in a conservative family in Sudan and later fled to Norway. His artwork mixes Sudanese (e.g., the Black Pharaohs of the ancient Kingdom of Kush) and Western influences. He was profiled in the 2020 documentary The Art of Sin.
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
2025
Ingraining and Unfolding. Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, Germany (Upcoming)
Truth Bears No Scandal . Museo Universitario del Chopo, Mexico City, Mexico
Talitin- -The Third: Ahmed Umar. Objectspace, Aotearoa, New Zealand
2024
Glowing Phalanges. OSL contemporary, Oslo Norway
Art Basel 2024 (Statements sector), Basel, Switzerland
2023
Glowing Phalanges: Prayer Beads 99. Bergen Kunsthall, Bergen, Norway
Glowing Phalanges: Prayer Beads 99. 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
2025
Inter:Active. Kunsthal Charlottenborg part of CPH:DOX
Beyond the Safe Zone. Borås Art Museum, Sweden
2024
Has My Place Forgotten Me? Kisefos, Norway
Toronto Biennial of Art, Toronto, Canada
Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere. The 60th International Art Exhibition, Venice Biennale, Italy
2023
Talitin - - The Third. Lorck Schive Art Award 2023. Nominees exhibition. Trondheim
Kunstmuseum, Norge
2022
We come from the other side. The Palace of Nations, Geneve, Switzerland
Fargerike fellesskap – kvitt raseri. The Valdres Folkemuseum, Fagernes, Norway
Invocation - 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, Norway4+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
The Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt, Germany
KODE, Bergen, 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
2024
Sonja Ferlov Mancoba grant
2022
Shortlisted by KORO for Decoration of the Pyramid Hall at the new Norwegian Government Building
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
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
2017
The Art Student Grant from BKH - The Norwegian Relief Fund for Visual Artists
Miscellaneous Grant, Arts Council Norway