Rama Duwaji is a Syrian-American illustrator, animator and ceramicist whose intimate, portrait-driven work has appeared in outlets like The New Yorker, The Washington Post and the BBC.
In 2025 she gained wider public attention after marrying politician Zohran Mamdani and appearing with him during his successful mayoral run — positioning her as New York City’s youngest, Gen-Z First Lady-designate.
This biography covers her early life, education, creative career, public profile and what to expect from her role in the spotlight.
Bio Data
- Full Name: Rama Sawaf Duwaji
- Born: 1997
- Age: 28 years (as of 2025)
- Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
- Nationality: Syrian-American
- Occupation: Illustrator, Animator, Ceramist, Artist
- Religion: Islam (reportedly)
- Spouse: Zohran Mamdani (m. 2025)
- Relationship: Married
- Net Worth: Not publicly disclosed
Early life and upbringing
Rama Sawaf Duwaji was born in Houston, Texas, in 1997 to Syrian parents originally from Damascus. When she was nine, her family moved to Dubai, where she spent the remainder of her youth. The multicultural upbringing — rooted in Syrian family life, Gulf-region schooling and later U.S. art education — informs much of her creative outlook. Duwaji has said drawing felt like a solace from an early age, and her parents supported her creativity while also encouraging practical choices around education and career.
Education and artistic formation
Duwaji began her formal studies at Virginia Commonwealth University’s art program (initially at the Qatar campus) and finished her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design at VCU’s Richmond campus in 2019. After a period of residencies and work in Beirut, Paris and Dubai, she moved to New York City in 2021 to pursue illustration and animation full time. She later completed a Master of Fine Arts in Illustration (visual essay) at the School of Visual Arts, consolidating her practice around portraiture, movement and communal narratives.
Career highlights — illustrator, animator, ceramist
Rama’s work emphasizes intimate portraiture, sisterhood, cultural memory and everyday scenes that reveal larger social truths. She works across editorial illustration, short animation, ceramics and screen prints. Her client list includes major cultural outlets and brands — The New Yorker, The Washington Post, BBC, Spotify, Apple and the Tate Modern among them — and she’s taught workshops and participated in artist residencies across the globe. Her pieces often combine gentle linework and quiet motion to invite conversation rather than preach, aiming to create public spaces for emotional and political reflection.
Notable projects and themes
- Editorial commissions & collaborations: Illustrations and short animations for well-known publications; collaborations that adapted her style for editorial essays and magazine profiles.
- Residencies & exhibitions: Selected for competitive artist residencies, including a Catskills residency and solo shows in Virginia and Beirut, which allowed her to explore ceramics and installation alongside illustration.
- Political & social art: Since 2023 Duwaji has produced pieces addressing the Gaza crisis and the Sudan conflict as well as works reflecting on migration, sisterhood and diasporic identity — art that connects personal experience with broader geopolitical questions.
Personal life — marriage and public role
Rama Duwaji met Zohran Mamdani in 2021 via a dating app. The couple became engaged in late 2024 and married in early 2025; they celebrated privately and have kept much of their personal life out of the media while occasionally sharing moments on social channels. When Mamdani won New York City’s 2025 mayoral race, Duwaji rose to national prominence as his spouse and will assume the ceremonial and public duties often associated with the city’s First Lady role starting January 1, 2026. Throughout the campaign and at victory events, Duwaji was visible but reserved — letting her style and presence communicate rather than frequent public speeches.
Public image, style and cultural significance
- A Gen-Z artistic voice in public life: At 28 she represents a younger generation of cultural figures associated with political leaders, bringing an artist’s sensibility into civic life.
- Transnational identity: Born in the U.S., raised in Dubai, with Syrian family roots and an active New York art practice, her background resonates with the city’s global cultural mix.
- Stylistic messaging: Her clothing choices during public appearances — often minimalist but laden with symbolic references, including designers tied to Middle Eastern or Palestinian heritage — have been read as intentional signaling of solidarity and identity.
Social media and public engagement
Duwaji maintains an active Instagram profile where she posts her illustrations, animations and occasional personal glimpses. Her online presence functions as a portfolio and a platform for gentle discourse: she prefers to let the work initiate conversations rather than turning to blunt political proclamations. This approach has allowed communities to form around her art organically.
Influence & what to watch next
Expect three main areas of interest moving forward: (1) how Duwaji balances a public role with a studio practice, (2) whether she uses the First Lady platform to highlight arts, cultural programs or community initiatives, and (3) how her work and public visibility might influence younger artists and diasporic creatives who see themselves reflected in her trajectory. Given her background and network, collaborative arts initiatives, community workshops or curated residencies are realistic possibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is Rama Duwaji?
Rama Duwaji is a Syrian-American illustrator, animator and ceramist based in Brooklyn who became widely known after marrying Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s elected mayor.
Where was Rama Duwaji born and raised?
She was born in Houston, Texas (1997) and raised primarily in Dubai after her family relocated when she was nine.
What is her art style about?
Her work centers on portraiture, sisterhood, communal experiences and diasporic narratives, using both static illustration and subtle animation to create emotional resonance.
What are some publications she’s worked with?
Notable clients include The New Yorker, The Washington Post, BBC, Apple, Spotify and Tate Modern.
When did she marry Zohran Mamdani?
The couple wed in early 2025 after becoming engaged in late 2024; they have kept much of their private life discreet.
Will she continue her art practice as First Lady?
While Duwaji has not formalized a public arts agenda, her history suggests she will likely maintain a creative practice and may use public opportunities to support arts and community projects.
Conclusion
Rama Duwaji’s story is a contemporary portrait of an artist shaped by transnational life, rigorous art training and a quietly principled public presence. Her work — intimate, socially aware and formally varied — has earned institutional recognition while her marriage to Zohran Mamdani has pushed her into broader public view. Whether she uses the forthcoming First Lady role as a public curator, community partner or continues primarily as a private-minded artist, one thing is clear: her creative voice and background make her a compelling figure at the crossroads of art, identity and civic life.
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