ANNA Award | Nada Baraka

Egyptian artist Nada Baraka is the winner of the 2023 ANNA Award, run by Latitudes. The aim of the award, which is sponsored by ANNA Pure Organic, South Africa’s first locally manufactured, environmentally friendly and organic feminine hygiene product range, is to discover, recognise and nurture a new generation of women-identifying artists from the African continent and the diaspora. 

Born in 1990, Baraka is a visual artist with a BA in Communication Media Art and Fine Arts from the American University in Cairo and a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from Central Saint Martins, London. Baraka makes paintings that maintain an endless, active state of flux, swaying between abstract and surreal with her evocative application and vivid colours. In her work she seeks to generate forms in new contexts as a means to challenge and deconstruct the obvious and tease meaning out of absurdity. 

For both ANNA and Latitudes, it is crucial that the ANNA Award is as inclusive as possible. As such, no formal art training is required in order to apply, there are no age restrictions for applicants, and the competition is open to women-identifying artists working in any medium.

Applications for 2024 are currently open, closing on 28 June.