Lives and works in Cairo, Egypt.
Souad Abdelrasoul's paintings exalt in the feminine and the emotional. They explore the idea of the modern woman, informed by her own experiences of being a woman in a patriarchal society. Many of her motifs address these issues, whilst also making reference to artists and practices that she admires. Reflecting on her experiences as a mother, Abdelrasoul draws attention to the ways women evolve and adapt in oppressive environments. Often using familiar myths and legends, she paints stories through her figures that question the roles women hold in society and cultural history in disruptive and thought-provoking ways. By reconceptualizing perceptions of space, she repurposes notions of form, science and nature into strikingly personal configurations.
Souad Abdelrasoul's practice spans various media, incorporating drawing, painting, sculpture and graphic design. Working between the abstract and figurative, she intertwines human, animal and vegetal forms, believing we are all intrinsically connected to the earth. Tree-like figures with branching veins and arteries and giant insect-like creatures merge on her canvases to remind the viewer of the vital bond between our internal lives and the exterior world we live in.
Abdelrasoul graduated with a BFA in 1998 from Minia University and in 2005 completed her master's degree in History of Art. In 2012, she completed her PhD in Modern Art History. Since 1998, she has exhibited frequently in group and solo exhibitions in Cairo, as well in Nairobi, Beirut and the USA.
Click here to watch Souad Abdelrasoul's film.