Nayra Aly (b.1996, Alexandria, Egypt) is a multidisciplinary artist, photographer, director, designer, and creator whose work spans a wide range of mediums and forms of expression. Rooted in personal experience, her practice explores themes of identity, belonging, mental health, displacement and racism.

Based in Stockholm, Sweden since 2011, she began her artistic career as a painter and illustrator, creating evocative works in charcoal and oil paint applied solely with her fingers. Drawn to the idea of world-building and visual expression as a whole, Aly never saw herself confined to a single medium. She soon expanded into the fields of photography, design and cinematography, completing her bachelor in Fine Arts and Design at Beckmans College of Design. Since then, she has established herself as an emerging creative force, producing widely recognized projects that have garnered the attention of leading institutions within their respective fields.

Fields

Creative Direction
Art Direction
Photography
Design
Painting
Editor
Illustration
Publications
Literature
Cinematography

Education

BFA, Beckmans College of Design, 2022–2025
Diploma in Fine Arts, IEGS, 2012–2015

Publications

Longing for Belonging, 2025
Och Sen Blev Det Ett Minne, 2025
I’m Scared, 2024
Enigmatic, 2024

Press

Fotografiska, Diaspora Panel, 2025
Fanzingo Röda Linjen, Special Guest, 2025
Fotografiska, Grant, 2025
B-Reel Films, Grant, 2025
Oatly Design, Grant, 2025
Essen International, 2025

Clients

Sneakersnstuff
adidas
NITTON
FOLK i Skärholmen
Stockholm Stad
Southnord
NeH
BAUHAUS
Beckmans College of Design

Exhibitions

2026

TBA, Helsinki, Finland
TBA, Stockholm, Sweden
TBA, Alexandria, Egypt

2025
Longing for Belonging, Salong CFF

Longing for Belonging, Essen HQ
Longing for Belonging, Beckmans COD
BOXED-IN, A-HOUSE

2024
I’m Scared, Värmeverket

There is no such thing as magic, Svenskt Tenn
HER, Underverket
I’m Scared, Unmute
Made by Mohammed, Vandalorum

2023
Clouds, Tekniska Museum

Collected by

MoMA: The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt
The National Library of Sweden
Stockholm University Library
Gothenburg University Library
Uppsala University Library
Lund University Library
Linköping University Library
Umeå University Library

Grants

Fotografiska, 2025
B-Reel Films, 2025
Oatly Design, 2025
Estrid Ericsons Stiftelse, 2025
Essen International, 2024
Umute, 2024