Kamala Ibrahim Ishag is a Sudanese artist who is widely recognized as a pioneer in African visual art and a leader of the Crystalist conceptual art movement. She was born in 1937 in Omdurman, Sudan, and studied at the College of Fine and Applied Art in Khartoum and the Royal College of Art in London. She has been an influential teacher and mentor for many Sudanese artists, as well as a prolific painter who explores themes of women, spirituality, memory, and culture in her works.

Her artistic style is characterized by the use of abstract forms, vibrant colors, and symbolic elements that reflect her personal experiences and cultural heritage. She draws inspiration from Sudanese folklore, rituals, poetry, and music, as well as from Islamic art and philosophy. She also incorporates elements of feminism, humanism, and social justice in her works, challenging the patriarchal and oppressive norms of her society.

Some of her famous paintings are:

• “Two Women (Eve and Eve)”, which depicts two female figures intertwined in a symbolic representation of unity and harmony.

• “Blues for the Martyrs”, which pays tribute to the victims of the 1989 military coup in Sudan by using blue as a color of mourning and resistance.

• “Bait al-Mal”, which is a memory map of the neighborhood where she grew up, showing the connections and relationships among the people who lived there.

She has exhibited her works nationally and internationally, and has received several awards and honors for her contributions to the art world. She is a recipient of the Prince Claus Award in 2003, the Nile Award for Arts in 2004, and the Order of Merit from the President of Sudan in 2010. She is also a member of the Sudanese Artists Union, the International Association of Art Critics, and the African Women Artists Network.

Kamala Ibrahim Ishag is a remarkable artist who has created a unique and influential body of work that reflects her vision, identity, and values. She is an inspiration for many artists and activists who aspire to make a positive change in their communities and societies.