Saif Azzuz participates in Entryways: Saif Azzuz, a project series at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Philadelphia that invites artists to create window graphics visible from the street, welcoming visitors while offering a point of connection between the institution, its surroundings and the wider public.
Azzuz’s practice is informed by his background as a member of the Yurok Tribe, whose ancestral lands are located in present-day Northern California. Drawing from Indigenous knowledge, natural history and land stewardship, his work frequently incorporates imagery inspired by native plants and Indigenous land management techniques. Through colourful, abstract paintings and installations, Azzuz explores relationships between land, culture and the environments we inhabit.
For Entryways, Azzuz’s graphics will occupy ICA’s Sansom Street-facing windows and are informed by research into the natural history of Philadelphia. Positioned on the exterior of the institution, the project creates an entry point for considering the relationship between communities and the natural environment, and how these relationships can be understood, sustained and renewed.
Entryways: Saif Azzuz is presented at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia. Major support is provided by endowed support from The Inchworm Fund, with additional support from Carol & John Finley, Stacey & Ben Frost, and David Simon.