Salma Hassaan is an Egyptian-German interdisciplinary artist and designer based between Los Angeles, California and Providence, Rhode Island. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Painting & Printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Digital+Media at Rhode Island School of Design.
Her work explores concepts of play, intimacy, and human connection through interactive sculptural installations. Inspired by nature, technology, and shared narratives, her work blurs the boundaries between perception and time, challenging viewers' relationships to the self and our natural environment.
contact: salma.pdesign@gmail.com
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 BioPossibilities, Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab at RISD, Waterman Gallery, Providence, RI
2026 Vis-a-thon, Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab at RISD, Waterman Gallery, Providence, RI
2025 Digital + Media Graduate Biennial: In Media Res, Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence, RI
2023 IMPART Artists, Qatar America Institute for Culture, Washington, DC
2023 Labryinto Festival, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
2022 Dawayer Festival II, Taghaghien Island, Siwa Oasis, Egypt
2019 The Egyptian Pavillion, Wanted Design - NYC x Design, New York City, NY
2019 The Egyptian Pavillion, Top Drawer, London
2016 Shadows of the Imperceptible - Photo Cairo 6, Saad Zaghloul Cultural Center, Cairo, Egypt
2015 PAPR 2015 Exhibition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Doha, Qatar
2014 Line Up, Torrence Shipman Gallery, New York City, NY
2014 Alternative Realities, Katara Art Center, Doha, Qatar
AWARDS/GRANTS
PRESS/NEWS
2026 Maharam STEAM Fellowship, RISD Nature Lab, Providence, RI
2026 Vis-A-Thon Collaborator, RISD Nature Lab, Providence, RI
2025 RISD Graduate Fellowship, Providence, RI
2023 IMPART Artist Grant, Qatar America Institute for Culture (QAIC), Wahington, DC,
2023 Labryinto Artist Grant, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
2023 IF DESIGN AWARDS - Professional Concept Award
2020 European Product Design Awards - Silver Design Award in Home Interior Products, 2019
2019 Ahram Online — Egyptian Crafts and Time-Honoured Arts Shine Ahead of “(re)New(re)Work” Show in New York
2019 Enterprise — Egyptian Pavilion Comes to British Design Event Top Drawer
2019 Flair Magazine— Egypt’s Most ‘WantedDesign’; Egyptian Pavilion in New York
2019 Egyptian Streets — 13 Contemporary Egyptian Designers Exhibit Works at WantedDesign Manhattan
2019 NYC x DESIGN Official Guide — Featured Artwork by Salma Hassaan, p. 88
2018 Film My Design— Featured Designer, Introductory Documentary, directed by Flink Studios
2017 Ahram Online — INTERVIEW: PhotoCairo6 Curators Talk (In)Visibility at This Year’s Far-Reaching Exhibition
2014 Gulf Times — Alternative Realities’ of Five Students