Rama Sawaf Duwaji (راما دوجي) is a prominent Syrian-American artist known for her work in contemporary illustration and animation. In her art, Duwaji explores themes such as identity, womanhood, migration, and social justice, and is recognized for her black-and-white portraits and symbolic storytelling. The artist collaborates with international institutions including The New Yorker, BBC, Tate Modern, and The Washington Post, and produces work not only in digital illustration but also in mediums such as ceramics and graphic novels. She is the spouse of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Early Life and Education

Rama Sawaf Duwaji was born in 1997 in Houston, Texas, United States. Her family originates from Damascus, Syria. At the age of nine, she moved with her family to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where she spent her childhood. Growing up in a multicultural environment significantly influenced the presence of Arab identity, migration, womanhood, and belonging in her artistic practice.

Duwaji began her education in Dubai and later pursued art studies at Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) satellite campus in Qatar before transferring to the main campus in Richmond, Virginia. In 2019, she graduated with high honors with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Communication Design. She furthered her academic training by earning a master’s degree in illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York.

Career

Duwaji is a New York-based illustrator, designer, and animator. Through her black-and-white portraits, she examines the personal and social experiences of women, particularly within the contexts of female solidarity, Arab identity, social justice, and psychological healing.

Her work has been featured by international institutions such as The New Yorker, The Washington Post, BBC, Apple, Spotify, Vice, and Tate Modern. She has also collaborated with organizations including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Cartier, and Institut du Monde Arabe.

Duwaji does not limit her artistic production to digital media; she is also known for her handmade ceramic works. By combining drawing and ceramics, she creates original illustrated plates and shares her expertise through workshop sessions.

Duwaji’s work centers on themes such as the female body, beauty standards, migration, war, and identity. She has produced numerous illustrations focused on women’s mental health and their struggle against societal prejudice.

Artistic Philosophy and Themes

Duwaji adopts an approach that integrates art with social awareness. She aims to raise awareness about women’s mental health, challenge societal norms, and visually redefine Arab identity.

Her art prominently features Middle Eastern symbols, black-and-white portraits, and figurative narratives. Themes of solidarity, migration, and resistance recur throughout her work. In a 2021 piece, she depicted the unity of three figures symbolizing solidarity in response to evictions in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem.

Similarly, illustrations she created in 2023 and 2025 addressing the famine crisis in Gaza and the civil war in Sudan have strengthened the connection between her art and activism.

Personal Life

Rama Duwaji married American politician Zohran Mamdani in 2021 after meeting through the online dating app Hinge. The couple attracted public attention following the 2025 New York City mayoral election. At age 28, Duwaji became the youngest First Lady in New York City’s history.

Duwaji prefers to keep her private life separate from public view. During the pandemic, she resided in Dubai with her family before relocating to New York to continue her artistic career.