Rama Duwaji | |
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راما دوجي | |
| Born | Rama Sawaf Duwaji June 30, 1997 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
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| Website | ramaduwaji.com |
Rama Sawaf Duwaji is an American animator, illustrator, and ceramist.
Duwaji was born to Syrian parents in Houston, Texas. [1] She spent ten years living in the Gulf Arab states before moving back to the U.S. in 2016. [2] Duwaji graduated cum laude from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in communication arts. [3] She later earned a Master of Fine Arts in illustration from the School of Visual Arts. [4]
Much of Duwaji's illustrations explores Arab culture with an emphasis on social justice, particularly women's rights. [4] [1] She focuses on creating art based on her own experiences and issues she cares about. [5] Her work has been published in The New York Times and The Washington Post , as well as British venues like the BBC and Tate Modern. [4]
Since 2023, Duwaji has created numerous works about Israeli crimes in Gaza during the Gaza war, as well as artwork supporting the victims of the Sudanese Civil War. [6]
Duwaji lived with her family in Dubai during the COVID-19 pandemic before relocating to Brooklyn, New York City. [4] In February 2025, she married Zohran Mamdani, a member of the New York State Assembly, in a civil ceremony at New York City Hall. [6] The couple met years earlier on the dating application Hinge, and held a private nikah ceremony in December 2024. [4] Duwaji and Mamdani reside in Astoria, Queens. [1]
