Nebil Zaman (f.1985, Kurdistan, Iraq) has a degree in Furniture Design and Interior Architecture from Oslo National Academy of the Arts. In combining his background from traditional woodworking, advertising and furniture design with his childhood upbringing and experiences, Zaman explores how our surroundings affect us socially and culturally through the use of different materials, production techniques, and visual languages. His formal language and aesthetic stems from a fascination with ancient civilizations, archaeological encounters, science fiction and futuristic visions. The scope of his creative process focuses on the combination of digital fabrication and handcraft methods. Zaman is most intrigued by the materiality of plaster, as it provides an organic element of expression and a sense of freedom.

Zaman was awarded the ‘DOGA Award for Newcomers’ 2017 for his project “Personal Space”, a bench that invites to reflect on how we relate to one another. The piece was acquired by the National Museum of Norway in 2019.

Zaman lives and works in Oslo, Norway.

Photo by David B. Torch