Ikram Lakhdhar

Ikram Lakhdhar is an independent Tunisian Curator and Scholar. Her research-based exhibitions examine issues of race, gender, and the politics of colonial and oriental representation. Including her most recent exhibition at George Washington University and Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, Gallery 102, “Water/ماء: Trespassing Liquid Highways”, which investigated the subject of water as a transnational grounding to uncover colonialist and orientalist between the Caribbean and the Mediterranean seas.

Lakhdhar holds an M.A. in Arts Politics from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and a B.A. in Art History and International Relations from Connecticut College. She is the Founding Editor of DIRT, a platform for inclusive arts discourse, and the Communications and Network Membership Manager at Common Field. 

Lakhdhar presented research at NYU, the Jerusalem Fund, Parking Gallery in South Africa, GWU, and others. Her writing has been published in journals including Arts.Black, BmoreArt, and Common Field’s Field Perspectives. She received international awards for her curatorial praxis most recently from Valetta 2018 Culture Capital, the Getty Foundation, CIMAM, and CISLA. 

What drew you to the MA in Arts Politics?

I came into the MA in Arts Politics with the intention to expand on my critical thinking, immerse myself in the ever flowing culture of NYC and engage with members of the brilliant community of NYU. With my background intersecting in curatorial and communications practices, I am eager to deepen my knowledge of how to create innovative actions that yield social justice impact. 

How do you describe or identify your practice/ work?

International curator, writer, communicator 

How did your experience in the program shape your work? Is there a particular moment or project that you can remember as having an impact? Please describe.

APP provided me with an incredible opportunity to sculpt my evolving practice as a curator and writer. I was able to methodologically think through very challenging contemporary issues by deepening my critical lens and expanding my network of art innovators. I am so lucky that I was able to immediately identify my desire to take as many APP classes as possible; Issues in Arts Politics, Transnational Turn, Representation of the Middle East, Curatorial practice, etc.. My most memorable, favorite, beautiful was my independent work with Kathy on writing my "filial translation" narrative, translating my mom's poetry from Arabic and manifesting a gorgeous event sharing my project with my mom, and the larger NYU public. 

What are some of the challenges and/or rewards of this program?

I think APP was a really challenging program because it offers so much beyond what i could have ever imagined. I found the most reward in pushing my limits and being rigorous in selecting what suits my academic needs and career desires.