SOAD A KADER
I almost always want to be by the window. I love looking out - seeing and feeling different types of space, especially the change of perspective looking down, like when I am on a rooftop or in an airplane. The surprise, mystery, or wonder at what I am observing intrigues me, peaks my curiosity. It isn’t always important to know what it is I am looking at. I enjoy that time in between, the ambiguity and call to look more closely to delight in the details and abstract qualities. Noticing colors, textures, lines, shapes, character of light or movement allows me to wonder. With layered acrylic inks and marks and textures made with pen, pencil, paper I explore changing points of view to express that pleasure and learning we can take in the everyday experience of looking and seeing anew.
I grew up with my Egyptian Muslim father and with my Basque-Italian-American Catholic mother, first in Egypt, and then in California. The mix they created in coming together continues to inform my identity and influence my perspectives and explorations. I wanted to change my name to Susan when I was eight so I could blend in more easily on California soil. My parents said no; I am grateful. Learning to be proud of my mixed heritage and stand in all my color gives me a unique vantage point and hunger for varied perspectives and deeper understanding.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2017 With Liberty and Justice for Some, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA
2017 Resistance, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2017 Sanctuary City: With Liberty and Justice for Some, San Francisco Arts Commission Main Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2017 With Liberty and Justice for Some, Walter Maciel Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2016 Identity Arc Gallery, San Francisco & Of Light & Color, PRF 711, San Francisco CA
2015 Artifacts, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA & Resolution, by ArtSpan Arc Gallery, San Francisco ,CA
2014 Periphery, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA & Salt Water Cures, Castro Wellness, SF, CA
2013 The Third Mind, Big Umbrella Studios, San Francisco, CA
2013 Memento, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2012 Bs.As. SF, two cities, one spirit?, Misho Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2012 Golden Gate, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2011 SoMa Artists at ArtHaus, San Francisco, CA
2011 San Francisco Summer, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2011 Secession Art and Design, San Francisco, CA
2010 Pairs, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2010 Ritual, Cara and Cabezas Contemporary, Kansas City, MO
2010 Be Present: Connect, Mamá Art Cafe, San Francisco, CA
2009 Artmeznick, San Francisco, CA
2009 el abrazo, TangoVida, San Francisco, CA
2008 The Funny of (Latin) Dance, Bill Santiago, The Marsh, San Francisco, CA
2007 Sundance Café, San Francisco, CA & Cock-A-Doodle Café, Oakland, CA
2006 Forty by Forty, Space Q-5, Pier 39, San Francisco, CA
2006 mi familia fv, Fundación Valparaiso, Mojacar, Spain
2004 Art Walk, Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA
2003 Dreams of Resistance, Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, SF, CA
2002 (annually to present), SF Open Studios Exhibition, SomArts Gallery, SF, CA
EDUCATION
BA, Art Studio, magna cum laude, University of California, Davis
Faculty:
Wayne Thiebaud, Manuel Neri, Roland Peterson, Roy De Forest, Mike Henderson, David Hollowell, Cornelia Schulz, Lucy Puls and Squeak Carnwath
GRANTS and RESIDENCIES
Fundación Valparaíso
Mojácar, Spain
COLLECTORS
Argentina, Egypt, France, Israel, Japan, Spain, South Africa, Thailand, USA, Venezuela