Uman

This is the first comprehensive monograph on the work of the Somali-born, self-taught artist Uman, whose vibrant, abstract compositions fuse figuration, spirituality, and personal mythology. Known for her vivid color palettes, intricate patterning, and fluid, improvisational gestures, Uman s work resists easy classification. Her paintings and drawings often emerge from meditative, intuitive processes, drawing from an internal landscape shaped by migration, queer identity, and a profound engagement with the artist s own unconscious. At once formally rigorous and emotionally charged, her work is informed by a wide range of references including East African textiles, Islamic calligraphy, nature, and dreams resulting in compositions that pulse with life and layered meaning. This richly illustrated volume traces Uman s extraordinary trajectory from her early life in Somalia and Kenya to her current studio practice in upstate New York. Featuring work made over the past 20 years along with newly commissioned essays, this book also includes selections of Uman s personal photography, providing an intimate view into the artist s life.