Categories: Chicago

Artist Sophia Al-Maria wins $100,000 prize from MCA

Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago (MCA) announced a winner of the first Dunya Contemporary Art Prize. It is a Qatari-American artist Sophia Al-Maria.

Sophia Al-Maria is a 35-year-old artist, writer, and filmmaker. She got the grand prize, $100,000 in career development. MCA is going to commission her painting that will be exhibited.

The Dunya Contemporary Art exhibition in MCA brought together mid-career Middle Eastern artists who work in challenging conditions and show specific peculiarities of their native cultures.

According to the jury of the exhibition, Sophia Al-Maria created a new visual language, innovative way to tell about the Gulf region’s Bedouin community where her family comes from. Now she lives and works in London, her art is devoted to the problems of social disparities and protection of the environment in such highly developed cities as Dubai (UAE) and Doha (Qatar).

Organizers of the Dunya Contemporary Art Prize stated that the exhibition is going to be held every two years and financed by Shulamit Nazarian Foundation.

Shawn Genzone

Senior writer at the Chicago Morning Star

Recent Posts

Messi, Suarez Lead Inter Miami to 4-0 Win Over D.C. United

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez each scored twice as Inter Miami cruised to a commanding 4-0 victory over D.C. United…

36 mins ago

Chicago’s Bellwether Opens as First LaSalle Conversion

Chicago has reached a major milestone in its effort to transform underused downtown office buildings into residential communities. On September…

46 mins ago

Chicago ranks among top vegan-friendly cities

Chicago has been ranked among the 15 best U.S. cities for vegans and vegetarians in a new WalletHub study released…

2 weeks ago

Chicago concert week brings major acts to city

Chicago is set for a packed week of live music as major pop stars, indie acts, rock bands, blues performers,…

2 weeks ago

High fuel costs may reshape American Airlines plans

American Airlines could reconsider its future capacity plans if elevated fuel prices persist, CEO Robert Isom said, even as strong…

3 weeks ago

Amazon Prime refunds expanded to as much as $200

More Amazon Prime customers will qualify for automatic refunds under a revised settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, with the…

3 weeks ago

This website uses cookies.