RÓZA EL-HASSAN

Róza El-Hassan ((b. 1966, Budapest) is a Hungarian-Syrian artist whose work often addresses political themes, especially related to the Syrian civil war and the concept of identity and society.

After studying painting at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts and the Städelschule in Frankfurt, she furthered her studies in the intermedia department in Budapest.
While her work is now internationally situated within a discursive and research-based framework, it was initially perceived primarily through the lens of imagined energies—most notably in her literally mounted objects from the mid-1990s. This dimension of her practice resonates with the mystical traditions of Central Europe.
El-Hassan’s hybrid cultural background often forms the basis of her projects, especially those developed over the past decade, including long-term research and exhibition collaborations. Notable examples include Extra-Territoria, realized together with Serbian artist Milica Tomić, as well as her research into the social and artistic transformations triggered by the Arab Spring.

For El-Hassan, artistic and social concerns are inseparable, constituting two sides of an integrated thought process oriented toward uncovering connections. Throughout her career, she has participated in residencies in Syria, Switzerland, Berlin, and Basel, and has held teaching positions at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts and ETH Zurich. In parallel, she has contributed to research in social theory, architecture, and design. Her work is internationally recognized, and in 2024 she was awarded the Herczeg Klara Award for art and social engagement.