Aidha Badr American, b. 1996
Biography
Primarily focusing on the early onset realization of what is referred to as a ‘loss’ of the object occurring during the early years of a woman’s life, Aidha Badr (b.1996) is a painter who uses memory as a medium while exploring theories of female desire, attachment, and object relations which compel women to an eternal life of desire and longing.
Aidha Badr’s work deals with universal experiences of femininity, childhood, and domestication and how women cope with emotional states and interpret affective information. Painting in an abstract timeline she works through her memories from the perspective of her childhood self, exploring parallels and unravelling her own childhood as she remembers it, as well as how it was told through stories and hearsay.
Aidha Badr received a BFA from Binghamton University, New York and is currently pursuing a MFA at Girne American University in Cyprus. In 2017, she was awarded the Novogrodsky Memorial Award for Artistic Pursuits, New York. Her works were already shown in two solo exhibitions in Kuwait (2018, “As Above So Below”, Dar Al Funoon; 2017 “Fomo”, Artspace). She also participated in various group shows in New York (Spring Group Show, Rosefsky Gallery; First Friday Group Show, Cooperative Gallery 213) and Kuwait (“Abolish 135”). In 2022, Aidha Badr presented her third solo exhibition, 'When I Desire You A Part Of Me Is Gone’, with Hunna Art in Dubai. In 2019, Aidha collaborated with Bloomingdales for the FW19 collection (Kuwait) and with Puma’s Spring Campaign Washed Ashore (Beirut).
Works
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Veiled self portrait , 2025
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Self portrait on red satin, 2025
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Self portrait study, 2025
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Constantly Desired, Never Loved All The Way Through , 2018
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Let Go Off All Earthly Possessions To Be Reunited With Your Loved Ones, 2021
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All The Earthly Possessions Left Behind, 2022
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Portrait of Dana, 2025
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Hermanas III, 2023
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Uncertainty Of Almost, 2022
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Desire tripled is love, love tripled is madness III, 2025
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Grief Is Love With Nowhere To Go, 2022
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Desire Tripled Is Love, Love Tripled Is Madness II, 2022
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Always Home I, 2022
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Always Home II, 2022
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Nothing To Write Home About, 2022
Exhibitions
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I’m Never Coming Back
By Aidha Badr at Firetti Contemporary (Dubai) 19 Sep - 7 Nov 2025Firetti Contemporary and Hunna Art Gallery are pleased to present I’m Never Coming Back , a solo exhibition by Aidha Badr. Motherhood has been one of the most profound shifts...Read more -
Noor Riyadh 2023
At the Riyadh Art space in JAX District 30 Nov 2023 - 2 Mar 2024Four artists -Aidha Badr, Amna AlBaker, Mashael Alsaie and Talin Hazbar- have been selected for 'Refracted Identities, Shared Futures', the exhibition accompanying the 2023 of Noor Riyadh. Held at the...Read more -
When I desire you a part of you is gone
Solo Show by Aidha Badr 19 May - 6 Jun 2022‘All human desire is poised on an axis of paradox, absence and presence its poles, love and hate its motive energies ’ - AnneCarson, Eros the Bittersweet (1986). In her...Read more
Essays and Publications
Press
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The Best Art Exhibitions To Visit This October
Amelia Dhuga, GQ Middle East, October 6, 2025 -
Art, History, Sparkle: 4 Cultural Events Not To Miss This September 19 Sept 2025
Dara Morgan, The Sandy Times, September 19, 2025 -
“I’m Never Coming Back” Solo Exhibition by Aidha Badr at Firetti Contemporary, Dubai
Slava Noor, Arte & Lusso, September 10, 2025 -
Exhibition Of The Month: I’m Never Coming Back
Amia Hasheel, Mojeh, September 2, 2025 -
Childhood to motherhood: Aidha Badr evolves at Firetti Contemporary show
Muhammad Yusuf, Gulf Today, August 27, 2025 -
I’m Never Coming Back – Aidha Badr at Firetti Contemporary
Martyn White, August 25, 2025 -
(Vogue Arabia) Noor Riyadh 2023: The Most Interesting Female Artists to Look Out For
Nitya Chablani, Vogue Arabia, November 29, 2023 -
(Alserkal Avenue) Hunna Art Gallery presents: 'When I Desire You A Part Of Me Is Gone', a solo show by Aidha Badr
Alserkal Avenue, June 20, 2022 -
(Mathqaf) - Aidha Badr’s Solo Show in Dubai
Elina Sairanen, Mathqaf, June 1, 2021 -
Episode 3: Gallery Girl meets Aidha Badr
Lizzy Vartanian Collier, Gallery Girl, April 28, 2021
Installation shots