Nora Taher
Biography
Nora Taher (b. 1998, Amsterdam) is an artist and graphic designer whose work explores themes of identity, cross-cultural dialogue, borders, (im)migration, and storytelling. Born to a Dutch mother and Egyptian father, her bi-cultural upbringing deeply informs her practice, which bridges multiple cultural narratives and visual traditions.
Taher graduated in 2023 from ArtEZ University of the Arts with a degree in graphic design. Six months later Museum Arnhem comissiond her to make an artpiece for their group exhibition To Each Their Own at Museum Arnhem. From here on Taher developed her practice with her background in graphic design and interest in installations, texile and image.
Rooted in research and storytelling, her work explores the layered intersections of identity, memory, and cultural heritage. Through found patterns, symbols, and both traditional and modern techniques, she examines both the visible and invisible threads that connect people to place, time, and ancestry. Her practice is deeply informed by her bi-cultural background and the dualities it brings, tradition and modernity, otherness and belonging. Drawing from the exploration of identity Taher creates poetic visual narratives that often question dominant historical structures while celebrating alternative knowledge systems.
Afrosurrealism plays a vital role in her work, serving as a lens through which she explores spirituality, collective memory, and speculative belonging. Her installations and printed matter frequently blur the boundaries between reality and the surreal, object and ritual, personal and political. Taher’s process is immersive and intuitive, grounded in observation of her environment, dialogue with local communities, and deep material engagement. From fabrics and pigments made from ground earth to timebased media, her works seek to reconnect body, land, and story. Her published works and commissions reflect her commitment to fostering dialogue about belonging and the narratives we carry with us. Rooted in a profound respect for the diverse histories that shape individual and collective identities, Taher continues to push the boundaries of her interdisciplinary practice, using art as a tool for connection and healing.