Asma Belhamar
MFA degree in textile design at Rhode Island School of Design, USA in June 2017
BA majoring in visual arts from the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University in 2012
Bio
Asma Belhamar’s interdisciplinary practice explores the phenomenon of the megastructure in the Emirates and its impact on the topographical memory of local landscapes. Through installation, experimental print, video and three-dimensional modelling, she synthesises the architectural and the organic to construct hybrid spaces that engage with notions of temporality and spatial memory. Her practice is driven by a desire to illustrate the effect that various architectural trends have had on perceptions of the Emirates both locally and globally.
Born in 1988 in Dubai, UAE, Belhamar holds an MFA in Textile Design at Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI (2017) and BFA in Visual Arts at Zayed University, Dubai, UAE (2012) Belhamar works as assistant professor at Zayed university Dubai.
Selected Public commissiones AlSerkal Public Art commission , Alserkal Art foundation, Dubai, UAE. Unity of artists commissined by Dubai Culture and Art Dubai, Dubai, UAE (2023). Public commissioned works include Distorted Familiarities for Expo 2020, Dubai in 2021, The Edifice of Sba at March Project, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE in 2019, and a new commission from Alserkal Foundation for 2024. Belhamar had her solo exhibition at Warehouse421 in Abu Dhabi in October 2022.
Selected group exhibitions include: 2023 Guest Relations, Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai, UAE
Evaporating Suns: Contemporary Myths of the Arabian Gulf, Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger, Basel, Switzerland (2023); Sharjah Biennial 15: Thinking Historically in the Present (SB15), Sharjah, UAE (2023); Tales of Nostalgia, Misk Art Institute, Riyadh, KSA (2022); Between The Sky and The Earth: Contemporary Art from the UAE, Middle Eastern Institute, Washington, DC (2021); Playing Spaces, Engage 101, Dubai, UAE (2020); Place Memory Time, 1stDIBS Gallery, New York, NY (2017); Art: Process & Practice, Salama Bint Hamdan Emerging Artist Fellowship Program, Warehouse421 Abu Dhabi, UAE (2016);
Office
Dubai Academic City, Dubai
Phone:
+971 4 402 1180
Email:
Asma.Belhamar@zu.ac.aeTeaching Areas
Currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises (CACE) at Zayed University, Asma teaches key subjects including Sculpture, Ceramics, and Painting, along with senior-level Visual Arts courses such as Senior Research and Professional Practice. Her teaching philosophy centers on empowering students to engage with their creativity while developing critical thinking skills. By employing innovative and experimental methods, Asma creates an inclusive learning environment that encourages students to explore their artistic identities and prepare for successful careers in the arts. She is particularly passionate about enhancing students' educational experiences, promoting their readiness for professional practices, and fostering collaboration between the college and local art institutions.
Research and Professional Activities
Asma's creative work includes significant contributions to the contemporary public art movement in the UAE, with commissions for around six public art projects, including installations for the 2023 Sharjah Biennale and Dubai Expo 2020. Her extensive portfolio also features noteworthy exhibitions, such institutional exhibits like "Solid Void" at 421 Arts Campus and "Evaporating Suns: Contemporary Myths of the Arabian Gulf." Her research focuses on the historical influence of architecture on collective identity, and she actively incorporates her insights into her teaching methodologies, guiding students in the exploration of contemporary issues through their art. Asma continues to engage with the art community through panel discussions and collaborative projects, ensuring her work resonates within the UAE’s cultural landscape and inspires the next generation of artists.