Biography

Rand Abdul Jabbar draws upon historical vestiges and ephemera to reconstruct records, events, and experiences. Her work contends with both personal and collective memory, engaging in research around the enduring legacies of imperialism, archaeology, mythology, and material culture. Using sculpture, writing, video, and installation, Abdul Jabbar’s practice unfolds through an experiential dialogue between recollection and reimagination. She creates anchors that facilitate the retelling of the past, transforming it into a space for reclaiming agency and affirming identity. Her recent exhibitions include In The Presence of Absence, Desert X Alula (2024); A Permanent Nostalgia for Departure: A Rehearsal on Legacy with Zaha Hadid, Contemporary Art Center, Cincinnati (2023); and Icon. Iconic: Richard Mille Art Prize, Louvre Abu Dhabi (2022). Abdul Jabbar was awarded the Richard Mille Art Prize by Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2022. Abdul Jabbar earned her Master of Architecture from Columbia University, New York (2014).