Rama Duwaji
Rama Duwaji | |
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راما دوجي | |
| Born | Rama Sawaf Duwaji June 30, 1997 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
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| Spouse | |
| Website | ramaduwaji.com |
Rama Sawaf Duwaji is an American animator, illustrator, and ceramist.
Early life and education
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]
Career
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]
Personal life
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]
References
- ^ a b c Noveck, Jocelyn (June 25, 2025). "Zohran Mamdani's wife Rama Duwaji is an animator, illustrator and ceramicist. And they met on Hinge". AP News. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ^ Duwaji, Rama; Pearce, Isabella; Robathan, Hannah (May 24, 2019). "In conversation with Rama Duwaji". Shado Magazine. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ^ Moreno, Sabrina (July 2, 2025). "Rama Duwaji, Zohran Mamdani's wife, has Richmond roots". Axios. Archived from the original on July 15, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Matza, Max (June 26, 2025). "Rama Duwaji: Who is the wife of NYC candidate Zohran Mamdani?". BBC. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ^ Shanab, Menna (April 7, 2025). "Rama Duwaji - Art, Activism, and the Spaces In Between". YUNG. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
- ^ a b Sutherland, Callum (June 26, 2025). "Meet Rama Duwaji, the Artist Who Met Zohran Mamdani on Hinge". TIME. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
