Amal Azzam is a Muslim American artist living in Milwaukee, WI. After studying Design at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee she worked as a freelance designer for local businesses including ArtWorks for Milwaukee and Leaders Igniting Transformation. In 2020 Amal began cultivating Muslim Artist recognition by curating art shows featuring local Muslim artists. As well as organizing two murals reflecting Milwaukee Muslims, one of which is located in the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Amal has co-founded Fanana Banana, a Muslim led art group curating and hosting art shows featuring local MENA, POC artists. During the covid-19 outbreak, Amal began experimenting with paint and has since used the new medium to reflect the emotions uncovered by the intense social distancing and unknown future ahead.
https://amalazzam.wixsite.com/amaltheartist
Mediums: Found objects, performance photography, painting, fibers
Favorite Artist Tool: Hands
Go-to Local inspiration: Educational YouTube videos
Mentor Compliment: Nirmal’s calm, collectedness, and wisdom to see the world as it is and as it should be is inspiring. I admire her strong and warm, grounding energy.
Fun Fact: I enjoy skydiving.
Serious Fact: I hope to plant more roots in Milwaukee.
Artist Statement
I am a daughter of Palestinian refugees, a Muslim woman, and first-generation American. My work reflects the layers of trauma, freedom, and misconceptions I must carry within my identity. The experiences of a Muslim Arab American are heavily affected by the general public’s knowledge of Islam and the Middle East. I believe popular media and political propaganda cause an inner and silent segregation of identities. My work is motivated by the desire to reveal and perhaps reverse the sense of fear and misconceptions in my audience in hopes of creating bridges for understanding and awareness. I invite the viewer with the use of playful colors, a predominant use of pink, and abstracted shapes. I often use painting, wearables, found objects, and performance photography to express my ideas on the inner struggles of my identity.