Ahmed Umar

Ahmed Umar (, born 10 February 1988) is a Sudanese-Norwegian visual artist and LGBT activist. HeEfn-ua|Umar uses he/him, she/her, to Siddig and Zeinab Umar, the youngest of five siblings. His family was a traditional Sufi family that lived between Mecca and Sudan.

Umar was educated in Mecca and first began to fall in love with other boys whilst living there. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Printmaking 2014 from Oslo National Academy of the Arts, followed by a master’s degree in Fine Art.

While in Norway, he became an artist known for mixing Sudanese and Western influences in the medium of live performances, work with ceramics, jewellery, and prints.

Art and LGBT activism In 2015, Umar came out as gay on Facebook. This caused many of the Sudanese community to turn against him, including members of his family. He later said of this experience:

I believed that I was cursed and that Allah would punish me with eternal unhappiness, HIV and die like Freddie Mercury, and that I will bring shame to my family. I wanted so badly to die. I was so lonely.

Islam in Umar's work Umar is an atheist but Islam and Arabic culture are major themes in his work. Many of his sculptures were inspired by the Qur'an, such as Would any of you like to eat a dead brothers flesh?, ' which originates from Quran Chapter 49:12, and What Lasts! which describes the story of Lot. Umar's 2016 'Purification set ' sculpture shows the tools used for Wudu. by stringing together a 365-bead amulet, one for every day of the year, to protect the wearer from harm and bring luck in the Sufi tradition.

Sudan in Umar's work Umar's work embraces Sudanese culture and themes. If you no longer have a family, make your own with clay , is named for a Sudanese proverb and deals with Umar's family disowning him after his coming out. In 2018, Umar became a naturalised Norwegian citizen and attended the citizenship ceremony wearing an outfit that combined Sudanese and Norwegian cultures. These photos were later displayed as street art around Oslo.

Sudanese Revolution Support of the Sudanese Revolution is a major theme in Umar's work. He also shared his hopes to "live freely in a democratic nation where everyone is valued equally". In 2020, during the Agenda arts and crafts event organised by Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Umar showcased his artworks relating to the relationship between art and democracy in the context of Sudan and its 30 years dictatorship. In 2021, the In God's hand photo project depicted the revolutionary women of Sudan, The Kandakas.

The Nile Pride 2030

Work and exhibitions

Selected work Kunsten a være syndig (2017) - short documentary film.

If you no longer have a family, make your own with clay , Last Frontier art space, NYC, US. (2020)

In God's hand, Ha Gamle Prestegard, Oslo. (2022)

Glowing Phalanges: Prayer Beads 99, (planned) Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo. (2023)

Selected public collections

Hijab (Annual Protection, ), Oslo Municipality Art Collection. (2017)

Thawr, Thawra , The Norwegian National Museum, Oslo. (2020)

What Lasts! (، Sarcophagus), Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium.

2017: Debutante Award, Kunsthånverk, Norske kunst og hånverkers Årsutstilling, National Museum of Decorative Arts, Trondheim

2018 Young and newly established artist's work grant, Arts Council Norway NOoSPHERE Artist Residency Award, New York City Scheibler Foundation Art and Craft Award

2021 KunstnerLiv documentary show, NRK Nominee for Sandefjord Kunstforening Art Award Artist's work grant, Arts Council Norway