Karima Sahidy is an artist and researcher from Afghanistan. After receiving her Painting degree at Herat University, Afghanistan, she worked as a teacher and educator before completing a Master’s degree in Visual Communication (Graphic Design) at Al-Zahra University in Tehran, Iran, in 2024.

In 2025, she moved to Germany and is currently working as an Associate Research Fellow (Assoziierte) with a six-month scholarship from the Gerda Henkel Foundation at the Berlin Centre for Advanced Studies in Arts and Sciences (BAS) at the University of the Arts Berlin (UdK Berlin), under the supervision of Professor Dr Kathrin Peters. She also received a two-month fellowship from Humboldt University Berlin.

Her research interests in graphic design focus on the connection between art and cultural identity. In her Master’s thesis, she examined the works of Afghan immigrant graphic designers—works that reflect the political, cultural, and social issues of Afghanistan and uses graphics as a means of expressing cultural identity. The aim of this research was to gain a deeper understanding of the visual and identity characteristics in the works of this group of artists.

As part of this research, she designed a collection of twelve works on the theme of "Women", inspired by patterns from traditional Afghan women’s handicrafts and clothing designs. These pieces reflect the lives of women engaged in activities such as carpet weaving, sewing, embroidery and leatherwork. Women who view art not only as a skill but also as an integral part of life—where every thread and stitch tells a story of history and culture. These women, with hands that carry both strength and delicacy, weave art into the fabric of their existence, preserving a heritage passed down through generations, often without realising the treasure they hold. The collection was created using digital illustration techniques, via Photoshop and a drawing tablet.

In her current research phase, she continues to explore the works of Afghan graphic designers from a fresh perspective, planning to produce a rich body of resources—books, articles, and academic research— in the fields of art and graphic design, as well as Afghan identity and culture. Such knowledge would not only reflect the deep cultural heritage of her homeland but also serve as a guiding light for future generations in recognising and redefining their visual identity.

contact:

email: k.sahidy_ @udk-berlin.de
instagram: @karimasahidy