Sannad Shreef

Artist Profile

Sannad Shreef
Sudanese visual artist based in Kenya
Sannad Shreef (Doha, Qatar) is a Sudanese visual artist based in Nairobi, Kenya. Raised in his father’s studio, he was introduced to painting, sculpture, and live performance at an early age, shaping a practice that remains deeply intuitive and exploratory. Working across painting, sculptural objects, and textile-based forms, Shreef often creates fabric dolls, dot compositions, and symbolic structures, allowing instinct and material to guide the process rather than predetermined concepts. Using tactile materials such as fabric, thread, cotton, and metal, his work reflects themes of resilience, displacement, and transformation—experiences intensified by the loss of his studio and artworks during the war in Sudan. This moment of rupture reshaped his approach, leading him to embrace improvisation and the creative possibilities found in scarcity. His works often balance order and chaos, incorporating self-portraiture and symbolic motifs that invite quiet dialogue and emotional reflection. Shreef has exhibited internationally. He is also the founder of the Future Artist Project, an initiative dedicated to encouraging children and communities to explore their creative potential.