Asaad Komi is a multimedia artist and sculptor based in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is known for his unique use of leather and other natural materials. His paintings, drawings, and sculptures typically depict portraits of indigenous Sudanese people from the Nuba ethnic group. He has exhibited his work in many local galleries, as well as in other states.
Born and raised in the Nuba Mountains, his choice of material is influenced by his upbringing in the rural mountainous region of South Kordofan in North Sudan. Komi attended the University of Science and Technology in the capital of North Sudan, where he studied art and sculpture. He was a freelance artist and photographer in Sudan and Egypt before he immigrated to the U.S. in 2000.
Ousted from his homeland of Sudan for political/cultural reasons, his artwork aims to provide visibility for the underrepresented Nuba ethnic group's culture and way of life. The Nuba peoples are a UNESCO-recognized indigenous ethnic group on the southern border of the country that continues to be discriminated against by the Arabized majority of North Sudan. His goal is to bring to light the vibrant culture of the Nuba people by displaying his art in spaces and institutions all over the world. He is currently working with other Nuba individuals from around the world to establish a Nuba National Museum for art and culture in the heart of the Nuba Mountains.
