Biography
Characterised by bold colours and immersive environments, Anna Boghiguian’s work takes many forms, from multimedia installations to paintings, sculptures, photography and book series. Her work represents a conflation of various perspectives, textures and impressions that emerge from the influences and impact of travelling, particularly in urban spaces, and her observations of social conflicts.
Boghiguian’s work has been presented in numerous solo exhibitions, including Anna Boghiguian, Castello di Rivoli, Italy (2017); Woven Winds, INDEX-The Swedish Contemporary Art Foundation, Stockholm (2017); A Walk in the Unconscious, Carré d'Art, Nimes, France (2016); Cities by the Rivers, SBC Gallery of Contemporary Art, Montreal (2015) and A Journey to Cavafy’s Alexandria, Benaki Museum, Athens (2010).
Among her group exhibitions are The Restless Earth, Triennale di Milano, Fondazione Nicola Trussardi, Milan (2017); Unfinished Conversations: New Work from the Collection, Museum of Modern Art, New York (2017); THE UNFAITHFUL REPLICA, Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo, Madrid (2016); SITE Santa Fe, US (2016); Positions #2, Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (2015); 56th Venice Biennale, Armenian Pavilion (2015); dOCUMENTA (13), Kassel, Germany (2012); Sharjah Biennial 10 (2011) and 11th International Istanbul Biennial (2009). Her work for Sharjah Biennial 10, The Simple Affair that Moved the World, 2010–2011, was commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation.
She has published artist’s books such as Anna’s Egypt (AUC Press, 2003); Images du Ganges (Editions Fata Morgana, 2003) and Constantin Cavafy: Poèmes (Editions Fata Morgana, hand-painted books, limited edition, 2001), and her works can be found in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Art Institute of Chicago; Neue Galerie, Kassel, Germany; Institut du monde arabe, Paris; Guggenheim Abu Dhabi; Kadist Art Foundation, Paris and Musée Carre d'Art, Nîmes, France.
Boghiguian was awarded the Golden Lion for the best national participation, 56th Venice Biennale (2015) and was a finalist for the 8th Artes Mundi award (2017).
She attended the Nubarian Armenian School in Cairo during her formative years and then went to the American College for Girls (1964–1969). She earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science at the American University in Cairo (1969) and a Bachelor of Fine Art in visual arts and music at Concordia University, Montreal (1973).
Born in 1946 in Cairo, Boghiguian is still based in the city, but she is continually travelling to other destinations across the world.