Sara Naim’s practice is inherently multidisciplinary: photographs are sculptural, sculptures painterly, and paintings reference photography. She investigates how meaning is constructed through inherited frameworks such as language, symbols, and ideologies, and how these paradigms shape our understanding of self and world.
She often employs technological glitches as metaphors for the limits of language and its inability to capture intuition. This reflects a broader inquiry into how we explain ourselves through representation and symbols rather than lived experience.
Sara frequently questions the assumption that proximity produces clarity, proposing instead that closeness leads to abstraction. This tension between distance and intimacy— often materialised through pixelation and scale— mirrors her relationship with her homeland, Syria, which was inaccessible to her for 15 years.
At its core, her work examines how rigid notions of separateness operate across individual, social, and national frameworks. Natural motifs, particularly flowers, recur as a way of linking personal ancestry to wider geopolitical conditions. By tracing how people and plants take root across borders, her work unsettles the idea of fixed political and bodily boundaries.
She often employs technological glitches as metaphors for the limits of language and its inability to capture intuition. This reflects a broader inquiry into how we explain ourselves through representation and symbols rather than lived experience.
Sara frequently questions the assumption that proximity produces clarity, proposing instead that closeness leads to abstraction. This tension between distance and intimacy— often materialised through pixelation and scale— mirrors her relationship with her homeland, Syria, which was inaccessible to her for 15 years.
At its core, her work examines how rigid notions of separateness operate across individual, social, and national frameworks. Natural motifs, particularly flowers, recur as a way of linking personal ancestry to wider geopolitical conditions. By tracing how people and plants take root across borders, her work unsettles the idea of fixed political and bodily boundaries.
CONTACT
info@saranaim.com
Represented by The Third Line
BIO
B. 1987, London
Syrian, London based
EDUCATION
2014 Masters of Fine Art Media, The Slade School of Fine Art, UCL
2010 Bachelors of Photography, London College of Communication
2007 Art Foundation Diploma, Chelsea College of Art and Design
SOLO
2026 (on view) From The Perspective of Language, The Third Line, Dubai
2022 Rose Tinted, The Third Line, Dubai
Rose Tinted, Volt, Eastbourne
2019 The Third Line, Building Blocks, Dubai
2018 Parafin, Reaction, London
2016 The Third Line, When Heartstrings Collapse, Dubai
2015 Hayward Concrete, Heartstrings, London
2012 Gallery 1, The Pavilion Downtown, When The Lights Went Off We Saw, Dubai
GROUP
2025 The Only Way Out is Through, curated by Shumon Basar, The Third Line, Dubai
Rays, Ripples, Residue, Warehouse 421, curated by Nadine Khalil, Abu Dhabi
Tasweer Photography Festival, curated by Meriem Berrada, Qatar Museum
Sotheby’s, Hot Spots, Dubai
2024 Artists in Flux by GUCCI X NOMAD, Skooni Villa, Dubai
2023 Pylon, Not knowing yet- possibly not knowing ever, Cyprus
Taoyuan International Art Award, Taiwan
2022 Gertrude Presents, London
There Goes the Neighbhourhood, Indigo + Madder, London
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London
Jeddah Photo 2022 (Saudi Art Council)
Portrait of a Nation II (ADMAF) Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi
2021 Cromwell Place with The Third Line, London
2020 Ancient Future, The Third Line, Dubai
There is Fiction in the Space Between, The Third Line, Dubai
2019 Centre Photographique Rouen, Science Fictions, Normandie
Kaviar Factory, Creation of a Moment, Henningsvaer
2018 Katzen Arts Center, Tribe: Contemporary Photography from the Arab World, Washington D.C.
Stedelijk Museum, Artificial Impressions, Breda Photo
Blyth Gallery, Imperial College, Experiment/Control, London
What's Up, LVH, London
Sans Titre (2016), Chambre 10, Paris
2017 Parafin Gallery, Secular Icons in an Age of Moral Uncertainty, London
The Third Image, Biennale des Photographes du Monde Arabe Contemporain (Institut du Monde Arabe & Maison Européenne de la Photographie), Galerie Binome, Paris
2016 Sans Titre Vol. 2 (2016), Paris
The Third Line, Mysticism, Materiality and Void, Dubai
Sans Titre Vol. 1 (2016), Paris
Hospital Rooms, The Pierrot Studio, London
2015 Hospital Rooms, The Pierrot Project: Entrances & Exits, London
Display Gallery, Here, Here & Sometimes There, London
2014 Rich Mix, Photomatter, London
The Slade School of Fine Art, Degree Show, London
V1 Gallery, Hindsight, Copenhagen
2013 Neu Gallery, Dazed & Confused Best of Year & Nominated Work, London
2012 Lab'Bel Gallery, Au Lait - Quand l'art Déborde, Jura France
Galerie Huit, Arles Photography Open Salon, Arles
2011 Traffic Gallery, The State: Social/Antisocial?, Dubai
Host Gallery, Foto8 Summer Show, London
2010 Photokina Fair, Academy Meets Photokina, Cologne
The Third Line Gallery, Project Space, Dubai Episode, Dubai
AWARDS
2023 Taoyuna International Art Award, Shortlisted
2020 Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellowship, Nominated
2018 Foam Paul Huf Award, Nominated
2017 Jameel Prize 5, Nominated
2016 Denton's Art Prize, Shortlisted
The Sovereign Art Foundation, Nominated
2013 Making Pictures Award, Winner
D&AD, New Blood Award, Shortlisted
RESIDENCIES
2019 Cité internationale des Arts, Montmartre, Paris
2018 Cité internationale des Arts, Paris
2016 Cité internationale des Arts, Paris
2015 Beirut Art Residency, Beirut
PARTICIPATIONS
2026 Art Dubai, The Third Line
2025 VIMA Art Fair, The Third Line
2024 Art Dubai, The Third Line
Clinique La Prairie Artist Commission, Art Dubai
2021 Contemporary Art Lecture, The Slade School of Fine Art
2020 Artissima online solo presentation, The Third Line
Art Abu Dhabi online, curated by Nada Raza
January Artist Takeover, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
Not Cancelled, Online with The Third Line
2019 Frieze London, The Third Line
Hospital Rooms Auction, Hauser&Wirth, London
Frieze New York, The Third Line
2018 Tedx Speaker
Topical Cream Auction, New York
2017 Frieze London, The Third Line
Hospital Rooms Project, London
2016 Beyond Borders for NextGen, Blain|Southern, London
Collectionair, digital solo show
Art Barter, Dubai
2015 FIAC, Paris, The Third Line
Art Dubai, The Third Line
Southbank Centre, Women of the World Festival
PRESS
2026 The National Newspaper, by Faisal Al Zaabi
Dazed MENA, Sara Naim and the Perspective of Language, by Zein Karam
2023 Ocula, Reality Beyond Rose-Tinted Lenses, by Jareh Das
2021 Studio visit by DATEAGLE ART
2019 King Kong Magazine, Microscopic Memories, Georgie Graham, September print
Canvas Magazine, Video Interview
Reuters, Video Interview
PHROOM, Interview
Arab News, The Making of Memories, Iain Akerman
2018 TED, How Photography Can Dissolve Perceived Boundaries
Mille World, Interview
Instant Loveland, Interviewed by Sam Cornish
Harpers Bazaar Art, Artist Profile, Spring 2018
2017 arab news, Frieze
2016 artnet, Must-See Art Guide: Dubai, Tatiana Berg
Gulf News, Matters of the Heart, Jyoti Kalsi
2015 Harper's Bazaar Art Arabia, Winter Issue, Bar None, Nadine Khalil, November
Tribe Photo Magazine, Laura Egerton, 01 Issue
2013 It's Nice That x2, Rising Star, Rob Alderson
Phaidon, Sara Naim Goes Tree Spotting
2012 Art Forum, Critic's Pick, Murtaza Vali
Vuu Studio, Super Special 9, Edition of 100
Gulf News (interview), On Seeing the Unseen
Time Out Dubai (interview), Flawed Images in Dubai
2011 Vice, This is What Last Summer Looked Like
Dazed and Confused (interview), Rise
info@saranaim.com
Represented by The Third Line
BIO
B. 1987, London
Syrian, London based
EDUCATION
2014 Masters of Fine Art Media, The Slade School of Fine Art, UCL
2010 Bachelors of Photography, London College of Communication
2007 Art Foundation Diploma, Chelsea College of Art and Design
SOLO
2026 (on view) From The Perspective of Language, The Third Line, Dubai
2022 Rose Tinted, The Third Line, Dubai
Rose Tinted, Volt, Eastbourne
2019 The Third Line, Building Blocks, Dubai
2018 Parafin, Reaction, London
2016 The Third Line, When Heartstrings Collapse, Dubai
2015 Hayward Concrete, Heartstrings, London
2012 Gallery 1, The Pavilion Downtown, When The Lights Went Off We Saw, Dubai
GROUP
2025 The Only Way Out is Through, curated by Shumon Basar, The Third Line, Dubai
Rays, Ripples, Residue, Warehouse 421, curated by Nadine Khalil, Abu Dhabi
Tasweer Photography Festival, curated by Meriem Berrada, Qatar Museum
Sotheby’s, Hot Spots, Dubai
2024 Artists in Flux by GUCCI X NOMAD, Skooni Villa, Dubai
2023 Pylon, Not knowing yet- possibly not knowing ever, Cyprus
Taoyuan International Art Award, Taiwan
2022 Gertrude Presents, London
There Goes the Neighbhourhood, Indigo + Madder, London
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London
Jeddah Photo 2022 (Saudi Art Council)
Portrait of a Nation II (ADMAF) Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi
2021 Cromwell Place with The Third Line, London
2020 Ancient Future, The Third Line, Dubai
There is Fiction in the Space Between, The Third Line, Dubai
2019 Centre Photographique Rouen, Science Fictions, Normandie
Kaviar Factory, Creation of a Moment, Henningsvaer
2018 Katzen Arts Center, Tribe: Contemporary Photography from the Arab World, Washington D.C.
Stedelijk Museum, Artificial Impressions, Breda Photo
Blyth Gallery, Imperial College, Experiment/Control, London
What's Up, LVH, London
Sans Titre (2016), Chambre 10, Paris
2017 Parafin Gallery, Secular Icons in an Age of Moral Uncertainty, London
The Third Image, Biennale des Photographes du Monde Arabe Contemporain (Institut du Monde Arabe & Maison Européenne de la Photographie), Galerie Binome, Paris
2016 Sans Titre Vol. 2 (2016), Paris
The Third Line, Mysticism, Materiality and Void, Dubai
Sans Titre Vol. 1 (2016), Paris
Hospital Rooms, The Pierrot Studio, London
2015 Hospital Rooms, The Pierrot Project: Entrances & Exits, London
Display Gallery, Here, Here & Sometimes There, London
2014 Rich Mix, Photomatter, London
The Slade School of Fine Art, Degree Show, London
V1 Gallery, Hindsight, Copenhagen
2013 Neu Gallery, Dazed & Confused Best of Year & Nominated Work, London
2012 Lab'Bel Gallery, Au Lait - Quand l'art Déborde, Jura France
Galerie Huit, Arles Photography Open Salon, Arles
2011 Traffic Gallery, The State: Social/Antisocial?, Dubai
Host Gallery, Foto8 Summer Show, London
2010 Photokina Fair, Academy Meets Photokina, Cologne
The Third Line Gallery, Project Space, Dubai Episode, Dubai
AWARDS
2023 Taoyuna International Art Award, Shortlisted
2020 Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellowship, Nominated
2018 Foam Paul Huf Award, Nominated
2017 Jameel Prize 5, Nominated
2016 Denton's Art Prize, Shortlisted
The Sovereign Art Foundation, Nominated
2013 Making Pictures Award, Winner
D&AD, New Blood Award, Shortlisted
RESIDENCIES
2019 Cité internationale des Arts, Montmartre, Paris
2018 Cité internationale des Arts, Paris
2016 Cité internationale des Arts, Paris
2015 Beirut Art Residency, Beirut
PARTICIPATIONS
2026 Art Dubai, The Third Line
2025 VIMA Art Fair, The Third Line
2024 Art Dubai, The Third Line
Clinique La Prairie Artist Commission, Art Dubai
2021 Contemporary Art Lecture, The Slade School of Fine Art
2020 Artissima online solo presentation, The Third Line
Art Abu Dhabi online, curated by Nada Raza
January Artist Takeover, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
Not Cancelled, Online with The Third Line
2019 Frieze London, The Third Line
Hospital Rooms Auction, Hauser&Wirth, London
Frieze New York, The Third Line
2018 Tedx Speaker
Topical Cream Auction, New York
2017 Frieze London, The Third Line
Hospital Rooms Project, London
2016 Beyond Borders for NextGen, Blain|Southern, London
Collectionair, digital solo show
Art Barter, Dubai
2015 FIAC, Paris, The Third Line
Art Dubai, The Third Line
Southbank Centre, Women of the World Festival
PRESS
2026 The National Newspaper, by Faisal Al Zaabi
Dazed MENA, Sara Naim and the Perspective of Language, by Zein Karam
2023 Ocula, Reality Beyond Rose-Tinted Lenses, by Jareh Das
2021 Studio visit by DATEAGLE ART
2019 King Kong Magazine, Microscopic Memories, Georgie Graham, September print
Canvas Magazine, Video Interview
Reuters, Video Interview
PHROOM, Interview
Arab News, The Making of Memories, Iain Akerman
2018 TED, How Photography Can Dissolve Perceived Boundaries
Mille World, Interview
Instant Loveland, Interviewed by Sam Cornish
Harpers Bazaar Art, Artist Profile, Spring 2018
2017 arab news, Frieze
2016 artnet, Must-See Art Guide: Dubai, Tatiana Berg
Gulf News, Matters of the Heart, Jyoti Kalsi
2015 Harper's Bazaar Art Arabia, Winter Issue, Bar None, Nadine Khalil, November
Tribe Photo Magazine, Laura Egerton, 01 Issue
2013 It's Nice That x2, Rising Star, Rob Alderson
Phaidon, Sara Naim Goes Tree Spotting
2012 Art Forum, Critic's Pick, Murtaza Vali
Vuu Studio, Super Special 9, Edition of 100
Gulf News (interview), On Seeing the Unseen
Time Out Dubai (interview), Flawed Images in Dubai
2011 Vice, This is What Last Summer Looked Like
Dazed and Confused (interview), Rise