Rooted in Motion: Hamed Zida

Hamed Zida (b. 1994, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire) is an American-Burkinabe multidisciplinary artist

whose work investigates the intersections of cultural identity, migration, and the human

condition. Raised in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and currently based between New York,

Nashville, Abidjan, and Ouagadougou, Zida brings a transcontinental perspective to his practice,

drawing from both his West African heritage and global experiences.

Working across painting, mixed media, sculpture, and installation, Zida explores 

displacement, resilience, survival, and socio-political instability themes. His vibrant color palettes and

layered compositions reflect a personal narrative shaped by mobility and the complexities of

navigating between cultures. Each work serves as a personal reflection and a platform for

broader dialogue, shedding light on collective histories and untold stories shaped by migration

and identity.

Zida’s recent solo exhibitions include Colors of the Mind at the Weatherspoon Art Museum.

(2024), African Mood at Qoobre Gallery, Abidjan (2023), and World in Colors at Santa Maria

Gallerie, Abidjan (2022). His work has also been featured in notable group shows such as Africa.

Basel 2025 (Switzerland), Best in Show at Emerge Gallery (New York, 2024), Swiss Art Expo

(Zurich, 2024), and Basel Art Expo (2023).

fairs, including African Art Basel 2025. Zida's creative vision and philosophical approach are also the

subject of the 2024 publication Infinite Horizons: The Life, Art, and Philosophy of Hamed Zida.

With a practice rooted in both personal narrative and global consciousness, Hamed Zida’s work

serves as an invitation to reflect on the ever-evolving questions of identity, belonging, and the

shared human journey.