About
Born in 1986 in West Berlin, Germany, Lawil Karama is a conceptual artist based in Rotterdam. With a Ugandan father and a Dutch mother, her diverse heritage profoundly shapes her artistic practice.
Karama’s creative path began in the world of special make-up effects, where she trained in techniques of transformation, illusion, and bodily storytelling. This foundation continues to influence her approach to sculpture and installation, bringing a visceral understanding of form, surface, and psychological tension into her current work.
In 2024, Karama graduated from the Dogtime department (Unstable Media) at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. Her graduation project was selected for the Rietveld Review(ed), an annual distinction highlighting outstanding final works.
Karama’s work is deeply rooted in the diasporic experience, often drawing from her family history as a starting point. Through a confrontational yet nuanced approach, she challenges conventional narratives, using her practice to amplify unheard voices and offer new perspectives. She creates immersive installations that interweave personal and collective stories, shaping them into thought-provoking visual experiences.
With a sharp yet subtle gaze, Karama skillfully intertwines everyday observations with broader cultural and political themes. Her work occupies a space that is both neutral and engaged, reflecting and criticizing contemporary issues. Ultimately, her installations invite deeper engagement with the lived realities of marginalized communities and the complexities of memory, identity, and power.
In addition to her artistic practice, Karama works professionally as a Program Officer at the Interledger Foundation, where she manages a portfolio that includes the Ambassadorship Program, a fellowship initiative, and the Call for Papers program in the field of digital financial inclusion. Her curatorial and programmatic work sharpens the critical lens through which she examines efforts to dismantle barriers to access and expand opportunities for underrepresented communities. These concerns deeply inform the thematic focus of her artistic installations.
A selection of her works is available in the Portfolio, along with an overview of her Practice and Recognitions. A full CV can be provided upon request.