Collection: Eman Ali

Eman Ali (b. 1986) is an Omani visual artist, living and working between Bahrain and Oman.

Working primarily with photography, text, sound, and installations, Eman Ali’s work intertwines gender and  socio-political ideologies to question the intricate Khaleeji culture, societies, and women’s representations. She has integrated her practice as a social critique, observation, and investigation of the multi-layered histories of the Gulf, the Arab world, and East Africa. Through her cinematic photographs, Eman Ali reveals the untold norms of our society and invites viewers to reflect on the underlying boundaries and systems that govern our lives.


© Eman Ali

Eman Ali, by Wadha Al-Aqeedi

Eman Ali creates vivid, captivating, and meticulously detailed photographs that transport viewers into the realm of make-believe, her psyche, and universe. Born in London and raised in Oman, she travels between London, Manama, and Muscat ever so often and does much of her work in the Gulf - her connection to these three cities is embedded in her roots and personal experiences. Driven by questions about gender, religion, and socio-political ideologies, her work primarily examines social norms and women’s representation in the region. The intersection of these preoccupations is central to her artistic practice. Integrated as part celebration and part critique, Eman Ali’s work is fuelled by her curiosity, observations, and personal experiences living in the Gulf.

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After starting her practice as a self-taught photographer, Eman Ali decided to pursue her artistic education in London with a BA in Graphic Design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design (2008) then with an MA in Photography from the Royal College of Art (2017).

Eman Ali has been shortlisted for numerous prestigious photography prizes including the Foam Paul Huf Award (2013), European Photo Award (2016) and Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize (2018). In 2020, she was a Single Image winner at the British Journal of Photography Female in Focus Awards. Her previous clients include Ffotogallery Wales, BMW, Adidas, and The Standard Hotel, among others, and her work has been exhibited in fairs and exhibitions in Africa, Asia and Europe.

>> Uzazi (Fertility), 2019 © Eman Ali

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