Fatima Mohammed (b. 1993) is a Qatari visual artist, living and working in Doha. She obtained her BFA in Painting and Printmaking from VCUarts Qatar in 2016, where she first adopted her alter ego, 3naj (Anaj). Following her graduation, she completed two artist residencies: the Fire Station (Doha, 2017-18) and the International Studio & Curatorial Program (NYC, 2019).
Spanning painting, printmaking, photography, and sculpture, Fatima casts 3naj in her work as a strategy to navigate the complexities of personhood and Khaleeji subjecthood. Alongside this exploration, her most recent body of work examines the genealogies and enduring impact of petro-colonialism in the Arabian Gulf, which draws on personal and official archives.
Through 3naj, Fatima embodies the intersection of two cultural dichotomies—part Arab and part American bald eagle—mirroring her own personal metamorphosis, mixed lineage, and growth in an ever-evolving landscape. Revered as an emblem of strength, independence, and freedom, Fatima’s American eagle is often depicted in a traditional golden Batoola and Abaya, symbolising not only her protective nature but also the culture she’s bound to. In other instances, 3naj embraces the spirit of the wild west, sporting jeans, a leather beak cover, a dapper jacket, and a hat. Fatim’s occasional appearances as 3naj, whether strolling the streets of New York City, taking the Doha metro, or attending exhibition openings, not only provokes public bafflement but also enables her to explore alternative spaces through her alter ego. Just like Fatima, viewers become spectators of a world seen through the trajectory of her fictional character, exploring the realities of a globalising society, social history, and at times her world of make-believe.
Fatima has exhibited her work locally and internationally, including the Fire Station (Doha), International Studio & Curatorial Program (NYC), Qatar-America Institute (DC), Manege Central Exhibition Hall (Saint Petersburg), Mathaf: the Arab Museum of Modern Art (Doha), National Museum of Qatar (Doha) among others.
