Jamila Boughelaf - Guglieri

Artist

Jamila Boughelaf, a London-based artist of Algerian and Italian heritage, employs visual and performance art, alongside improvisational techniques, to explore themes of social justice, identity, often connecting to the inner child.

Her figurative works often evoke a child-like sensibility, drawing from personal memories and relationships, rendered in oil paint, charcoal or watercolours.

For works on social justice and empowerment, Boughelaf employs improvisation, mixed media, and natural materials such as henna, beeswax, and sand.

Performance art holds a special place in her practice, where both the act and its remnants become integral to the artwork, eliciting varied emotions in viewers. Moving beyond traditional painting, Boughelaf is drawn to working with unstretched canvases and fabrics, exploring the flexibility of materials and expanding into new spatial dimensions.

Boughelaf has a Certificate in Fine Art at the Art Academy London and has exhibited at 'The Path' at the Venice Biennale, Palazzo Pisani-Revedin (2024) , at the P21 Gallery London (2021 and 2024), and at the 'Drawing Humans' exhibition at XYZ Gallery, London (2025).

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Portfolio Artsy - The Path - Venice Drawing Humans Catalogue

Artwork

Transcendence

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Transcendence

Oil and goldleaf on panel

61 X 42 X 1.6 cm

Transcendence, oil and gold leaf on panel. "Transcendence" is a visual commentary on the theme of introspection in today's tumultuous world. It invites viewers to contemplate the significance of stillness and reflection amidst societal upheaval. With swirling blues, vibrant magentas, and shimmering golds reminiscent of religious iconography, the painting exudes an aura of sacral importance. However, unlike traditional religious art, it portrays transcendence as a personal refuge from the overwhelming noise of modern life, a moment of spiritual respite where one can detach from the constraints of time and space. In a world where escapism is often dismissed as avoidance, "Transcendence" challenges this notion by presenting it as a necessary precursor to meaningful action. It prompts us to consider the transformative power of introspection, a collective letting go of preconceptions and prejudices in pursuit of a more just and equitable society. Through its symbolism, this abstract piece serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of spiritual nourishment and self-examination in the ongoing struggle for social justice. It urges us to look beyond the surface of our troubled times and seek comfort in the depths of our own souls, where the seeds of change can take root and flourish.

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Defiant Journeys

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Defiant Journeys

Natural mix media (henna, sand, beeswax, madder powder, turmeric) and collage on canvas stretched on panel.

61 X 84 X 1.6 cm

Defiant Journeys: 1) Ancestral Rooting, 2) End the Violations: Earth, Spirit, Flesh under Occupation. Defiant Journeys denounces colonialism while celebrating empowerment. By drawing connections between Algeria's historical struggle against colonisation and the ongoing fight against occupation in Palestine, the work underscores the enduring necessity of resistance, cultural and ancestral identity, and solidarity. This diptych builds on the symbolic nature and significance of natural pigment and media, including henna, sand, beeswax, gum Arabic, madder powder, and turmeric. These natural materials are central to the cultural identities referenced, and this painting seeks to reinforce the power of rootedness in resisting imposed oppression. Some of the henna footprints visible are remnants of a dance piece on identity, performed by the artist at the Elle-Djazair exhibition during the DZ Festival at P21 Gallery, London, in 2022.

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Desert Vibes

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Desert Vibes

Mix media: Oil, marble powder and red rock from the Algerian Sahara (Tadrart Rouge) on canvas board.

40.6 X 30.5 X inch

This painting aims to capture the essence of the Sahara, using red rock sourced directly from the Tadrart Rouge in the Algerian desert. By incorporating this natural material, the artist seeks to convey the powerful emotions and deep connection she experienced during her recent journey to the Tadrart Rouge, bringing the raw beauty of the landscape to the canvas.

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Amazigh Dancers

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Amazigh Dancers

Oil on stretched linen canvas

50 X 60 X 2 cm

Inspired by Algeria's rich traditions, this artwork reflects the rhythms of Kabyle Amazigh folkloric dance. It celebrates women's strength and joy, capturing a dance with swift footwork, continuous hip movements, and vibrant, swirling scarves.

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Ghost Within

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Ghost Within

Acrylics on fabric

45.7 X 35.6 X 0.5 cm

Ghost Within Ghost Within explores contemporary painting through the integration of paint and fabric patterns. By layering paint with fabric, including elements of burnt fabric, the piece symbolises a trapped ghost, embodying themes of entrapment and hidden presence within the textures.

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Dance Explosion

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Dance Explosion

Watercolours and charcoal on paper

42 X 29.7 X cm

Giclée print. Original piece already sold.

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Untitled

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Untitled

Charcoal on paper

42 X 29.7 X inch

Giclée print. Original piece already sold.

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Untitled

SOLD

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Untitled

Oil and henna on canvas

84 X 88 X cm

This oil painting was created from remnants of a performance piece, which created the base layer of henna footprints. The painting itself was then developed as part of a life drawing session.

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Past Exhibitions

03.09.2024 - 03.11.2024
The Path, during Venice Biennale, Palazzo Pisani-Revedin, S. Marco, 4013A, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy Curated by Amy Jackson and powered by SHIM Art Network

20.06.2024 - 23.06.2024
Art Academy London Graduate Show, Art Academy London, 165A Mermaid Court, Borough High Street, London‎

30.09.2022 - 08.10.2022
Elle-Djazair - DZ Festival, P21 Gallery, 21-27 Chalton St, London NW1 1JD

30.10.2021 - 06.11.2021
Haramacy residency and performance, The Albany, Douglas Way, London SE8 4AG

20.07.2022 - 20.07.2022
'Curfew' Contemporary Dance Performance, Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon St, London WC1H 0AH

17.07.2022 - 17.07.2022
'Curfew' Contemporary Dance Performance, Unity Theatre, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival 1 Hope Pl, Liverpool L1 9BG

21.09.2024 - 21.09.2024
DZ Festival, P21 Gallery, 21-27 Chalton St, London NW1 1JD

12.03.2025 - 29.03.2025
Drawing Humans, XYZ Gallery, 5 Grays Inn Rd, London WC1X 8PH

Represented by

Shim Art Network

London, United Kingdom

Website

@shimartnetwork

Jamila Boughelaf - Guglieri

Artist

Shim Art Network

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