Photo by Peter Nylund

Alqumit Alhamad (b. 1992) is a multidisciplinary artist born in Jarash, Jordan, raised in Limassol, Cyprus, and Raqqa, Syria, and currently based in Göteborg, Sweden. Alhamad’s artistic practice is rooted in lived experience and shaped by an ongoing navigation between displacement, queerness, and the politics of visibility. His work revolves around themes of self-affirmation, self-destruction, self-invention, and self-reference, concepts that reflect his continuous process of navigating cultural dislocation and reconstructing identity.

Working across disciplines including sculpture, painting, and storytelling, Alhamad frequently weaves together historical source material with sensory expressions such as scent, sound, and tactile elements. Thematically, his work explores identity, trauma, and cultural heritage, where the personal is intricately intertwined with the collective. Drawing from his experience as a war refugee and being queer, he investigates issues of migration, borders, and power relations, with a commitment to making visible the stories that are often marginalized or silenced.

Alhamad’s methodology centers on collaboration, archival exploration, and an engagement with traditional crafts. He merges these with contemporary media, including textiles, video, and spatial installation, to create sensorial environments that invite emotional and physical engagement. Through the use of sensory-stimulating materials, immersive soundscapes, scent compositions, and touch-responsive surfaces, he intensifies the experiential dimension of his work and fosters spaces for reflection on belonging, embodiment, and resistance to normative systems. In doing so, his artworks serve both as vessels of memory and as platforms for the collective re-creation of narratives and lived experiences.

In 2025, Alhamad received the Vera and Göran Agnekils award from the Swedish Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm. That same year, his project War Trauma won the Ung Svensk Form 2025 (Young Swedish Designers) competition, and he was awarded the Postnord stamp sketch assignment at ArkDes, Stockholm. Alhamad has also received the Al-Basel award from Aleppo University and a one-year working grant from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee (Konstnärsnämnden). He was nominated for the Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf's Young Leader Scholarship and for the Bror Hjorth Award for Young Illustrators in Uppsala, Sweden.

Recent exhibitions include The British Museum (2019), SOAS University of London (2019), Berlin Central Station (2017), Blå Stället Konsthall (2022), SEAS Brighton Gallery (2021), Steneby Konsthall (2023), Gallery Detriti – GIBCA Extended (2023), Liljevalchs Konsthall (2024, 2025), Not Quite Konsthall (2024), and Hammarkullen Konsthall (2024), among others.




Email: aalqumit@gmail.com

Instagram: @alqumit

CURRICULUM VITAE

Education

  • 2022-2024, MFA in Fine Art, HDK Valand, Göteborg University, Sweden

  • 2021-2022, Visual Communication, Östra Grevie folkhögskola, Malmö, Sweden

  • 2014-2015, Design, Lattakia University of Fine Arts, Lattakia, Syria

  • 2011-2014, BFA in Graphic Design and Animation, Aleppo University of Fine and Applied Arts, Aleppo, Syria

Upcoming and Current

  • 2026, Gallery CG, Group exhibition, TBA, Malmö, Fall 2026

  • 2026, Gallery CU@uddenberg, Solo exhibition, TBA, Göteborg: 15 April

  • 2025, Vänersborgs konsthall, Solo exhibition (as part of GIBCA Extended 2025), TBA, Vänersborg: 28 November

  • 2025, Katrinetorp Landeri, Ung Svensk Form 2025, Malmö: 23 Oktober – 23 November

  • 2025, IKEA Museum, Ung Svensk Form 2025, Älmhult: 18 September – 9 Oktober

  • 2025, Sara kulturhus, Ung Svensk Form 2025, Skellefteå: 28 June – 10 August

  • 2025, Dunkers kulturhus, Ung Svensk Form 2025, Helsingborg: 29 Februari – 20 April

  • 2025, Kulturcentrum Sandviken, Ung Svensk Form 2025, Sandviken, 8 Maj – 18 June

  • 2025, Platform artspace and residency, Hearsay residency, Vaasa, Finland, April - June

  • 2025, Novia Art Academy, Lecture and artist talk, Jakopstad, Finland, 14 May

  • 2025, Liljevalchs vårsalong, Liljevalchs konsthall, Stockholm, 14 February - 20 April

  • 2024-2025, Boa - Brand Offrens Anhöriga, Group exhibition, Minnena ser oss, Göteborg, May 2024 - May 2026

Selected Solo Exhibitions

  • 2025, Gallery NSFW, Solo exhibition, Nature Mortelle, Göteborg

  • 2025, Gallery KC, Solo exhibition, Decolonizing Lines, Göteborg

  • 2024-2025, Hammarkullen Konsthall, Violence of Documents, Göteborg

  • 2024, Sta. Demonia, Great-Grandmother’s Tattoos, Stockholm, Sweden

  • 2023, Gallery Rotor2, Lament, Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2022, Frilagret konsthall, Collection of A Traumatized Queer, Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2019, Krut Malmö’s Stadsbiblotek, Forbidden, Malmö, Sweden

  • 2018, Gallery Warehouse9, Requiem, Copenhagen, Denmark

  • 2018, Inkonst, Bird Requiem, Malmö, Sweden

  • 2017, Skurup’s Library, Butterfly Requiem, Skurup, Sweden

  • 2016, Engsö castle, Requiem, Västerås, Sweden

  • 2014, Gallery Africana, Belonging, Lattakia, Syria

Selected Group Exhibitions

  • 2025, Stockholm Furniture Fair, Ung Svensk Form 2025, Stockholm

  • 2024, Not Quite, Group exhibition, Tänk på döden, Fengersfors

  • 2024, Göteborgs Litteraturhus, The Sea Is Safer Than The Land, Göteborg

  • 2024, Blå Stället Konsthall, Motståndets eko, Göteborg

  • 2024, Slakhuset, Speculative Gatherings, Göteborg

  • 2024, Katrinahissen, Speculative Gatherings, Art takeover, Stockholm

  • 2024, Liljevalchs konsthall, Liljevalchs vårsalong, Stockholm

  • 2023, Syntropia, Zelaous, As part of Kulturnatta, Göteborg

  • 2023, GIBCA EXTENDED Gallery Detriti, Unknown Forces, Göteborg

  • 2023, Steneby Konsthall, Embodiment, Dals Långed

  • 2023, Gallery Monitor and Rotor2, Thin Lines of Uneasiness, Göteborg

  • 2023, Gallery Monitor, Potentialities, Göteborg

  • 2023, Gallery Konstapdemin, Värde, Göteborg

  • 2022, Oceanin, SEIZED, Göteborg

  • 2022, Blå Stället Gallery, Göteborg, då, nu och sen, Göteborg

  • 2022, Blå Stället konsthall, Manifestation Of A Queer Diaspora, Göteborg

  • 2022, Husby konsthall, Husby vårkonstsalng, Stockholm

  • 2021, Jens konsthall, Requiem(Re-visted), Göteborg

  • 2021, S:t Johannes Kyrka, This Is Me, Malmö

  • 2021, SEAS Art Gallery, News From Nowhere, Brighton, UK

  • 2021, Esperantoplatsen, Vi Är Här, Group exhibtion, Göteborg

  • 2019, The British Museum, The Liminal, Group exhibition, London, UK

  • 2019, SOAS University, The Liminal, Group exhibition, London/UK

  • 2018, Studiefrämjandet, The Art of (war)Peace, Malmö

  • 2018, Garaget Bibliotek, Migration Memory Encounters, Malmö

  • 2018, BMECP Gallery, Color My World, Brighton, UK

  • 2017, Berlin’s Central Station, No Strange Place, Berlin, Germany

  • 2016, Frank Gallery, Untitled, Malmö, Sweden

  • 2016, konstrundan in Västsura gård, Konst Rundan, Västerås, Sweden

  • 2015, Lattakia’s Cultural Centre, Lattakia, Syria

  • 2015, Africana Art Gallery, Lattakia, Syria

  • 2014, Athar El Farasha Gallery, Moments, Aleppo, Syria

  • 2014, Issa Touma Gallery, Ashwaq, Aleppo, Syria

Selected Grants and Awards

  • 2025, Vera and Göran Agnekil's prize, The Swedish Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Stockholm.

  • 2025, Postnord Stamp sketch assignment, Young Swedish Design 2025, Stockholm

  • 2024, Atelier support, Göteborg city, Göteborg

  • 2024, Project Grant Pronto, Göteborg City, Tapestry of Diaspora, Göteborg

  • 2024, Assistant grant, Konstnärsnämnden, Stockholm

  • 2024, Project Grant Pronto, Göteborg city, Bläck och tråd, Göteborg

  • 2024, Tobison Foundation, HDK Valand, University of Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2024, Rewilding project, Mobility grant, Catch (Helsingør Kommune) Center for Art, Technology and Design, Denmark

  • 2024, Västra Götalands region, Guest ateljé in Belgrade, Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2024, Bror Hjorth award, Nominated, Bror Hjorth award for young illustrator, Uppsala, Sweden

  • 2023, Arnulfska Foundation, Travel grant, Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2023, Adlerbertska Foundation, Travel grant, Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2023, Pronto project grant, The city of Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2023, Arnulfska Foundation, Travel grant, Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2022, Konstnärsnämnden, One-year work grant, Stockholm, Sweden

  • 2019, Stipendiet Kulturkraft, Malmö City, Project support, Malmö, Sweden

  • 2018, The Swedish King’s Young Leader scholarship, Nominated, Malmö, Sweden

  • 2014, Al-Basel Scholarship, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Sweden

Selected Residencies

  • 2025, Platform artspace and residency, Hearsay residency, Vasa, Finland, April-Juni

  • 2024, Belgrade AIR, Guest ateljé in Belgrade supported by Västra Götalands region, Serbia

  • 2024, The Rewilding project, An artistic research trip in Croatia supported by Catch (Helsingør Kommune) Center for Art, Technology and Design, Denmark

  • 2022, Gallery p21, Online residency, London, UK

Selected Public Art

  • 2025, Postnord, Sketch assigment for Postnord stamps, Stockholm

  • 2024, Dictatorship Blue, Installation at Hammarkullen Train Station, Electric stairs, Göteborg

  • 2024, Death Jackets, Installation at Hammarkullen Station Vitrine, Göteborg

  • 2024, Lament of Warfare, Video installation at Katarinahissen-Slussen, Stockholm

  • 2023, Hijacking, Performance as part of the Graduation show at CPH Fashion Week, Copenhagen

Selected Commissions

  • 2024, Not Your Habibi, Collaboration design for the underground collective NYH, Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2023, Hijacking, A collaboration project for Copenhagen Fashion Week, Copenhagen, Denmark

  • 2022, Love is Not a Crime, A commission for Syrian Untold magazine, Berlin, Germany

  • 2022, Between a Sky and Rooftop, Collaboration with Dance Remainings, Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2021, Together as Ourselves, Commission for the Pride campaign for Vans Sweden at Vans boutique, Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2019, Queer Asia book, wrote a chapter for Queer Asia book, London, UK

  • 2018, Vad Händer Nu book, A feminist manifest, Malmö-Sweden

  • 2026-2028, Private commissions, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, USA

  • 2014, Prints illustrator and designer, XO fashion house, Aleppo, Syria

Selected Workshops

  • 2024, Writing workshop, Writing about your artistic practice with Sonia Hedstrand, Röda Sten Konsthall, Sweden

  • 2022, Summer workshop, Taught high school kids at Angered Kulturhus, Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2022, Eid workshop, A workshop with Syrian artist Heba Akkad at Angered Kulturhus, Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2022, Nätverksträffen, Stratgy exchange at NFK Gästatlje i Malongen, Stockholm, Sweden

  • 2018, Manga workshop, Skurup’s Library, Skurup, Sweden

  • 2017, Comics workshop, Skurup’s library, Skurup, Sweden

  • 2015, Workshop on body anatomy, Lattakia’s Cultural Center, Lattakia, Syria

  • 2014, Photography, with artist Issa Touma at Issa Touma Gallery, Aleppo, Syria

  • 2014, Calligraphy, Athar El Farasha Gallery, Aleppo, Syria

Selected Artist talks & presentations

  • 2025, Platform fr, Presentation and artist talk, Hearsay Residency, Vaasa, Finland

  • 2025, HDK Valand, Artist talk for the BFA2 in Photography at HDK Valand, Göteborg

  • 2025, Weaving Truths: Storytelling and Speculation, a conversation with Careen Koleilat, Gallery KC, Göteborg

  • 2024, Sta. Demonia, Presentation of the exhibition Great-grandmother Tattoos, Stockholm

  • 2024, Slakthuset, Presentation of my graduation project at HDK Valand, Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2022, SEIZED, Artisit talk at Oceanin, Göteborg, Sweden

  • 2022, The Oracle podcast, An artist conversation as part of H22 event, Helsingborg, Sweden

  • 2021, News From Nowhere, Artist talk at SEAS art gallery, Brighton, UK

  • 2019, The Liminal, Online Artist talk at The British Museum, London, UK

  • 2018, The Art of (war)Peace, Artist talk at Studiefrämjandet, Malmö, Sweden

  • 2018, Migration Memory Encounters, Artisit talk at Garaget bibliotek, Malmö, Sweden

  • 2017, Maskara magazine, A profile about my art and work in Malmö’s university magazine, Malmö, Sweden   

  • 2017, Old New Ways Of Seeing In A Binary World, Artists talk “The Conference” at Babel, Malmö, Sweden

  • 2017, TEDx Talk, Gave a talk about my work in art and trauma at Folketspark in Malmö, Sweden

Member of

  • 2025- , Svenska Tecknare

  • 2024- , Svensk form

  • 2022- , Konstnärernas Riksorgansation

  • 2022- , Konstnärscentrum Väst

Represented

  • Tobison Foundation, HDK Valand Archive Collection

  • Västrås Municipality

  • Skurup Manuicipality

  • Gallery SEAS, Brighton/UK

  • Private collections: Sweden, Syria, UK, USA, Germany, Bulgaria, Denmark, and Turkey

Selected publications

  • 2024, Speculative Gatherings, HDK Valand, Götebory University, Sweden

  • 2021, News From Nowhere Exhibition's Zine on Displacement & Refuge, SEAS Gallery, UK

  • 2020, Compassionate Conversations: How to Speak and Listen from the Heart, Shambhala, USA

  • 2019, Queer Asia Decolonising and Reimagining Sexuality and Gender, SOAS University, Bloomsbury Publishing, UK