About Omaid Sharifi
Biography
Omaid Sharifi is an artivist and President of ArtLords — a collective of self-styled artivists who create street art in Afghanistan and worldwide. A former fellow at Harvard University, Omaid is a board member of CIVICUS, a worldwide alliance that focuses on strengthening citizen action and civil society. With a career spanning over 19 years, he has demonstrated exceptional skill in planning, designing, and implementing a wide range of projects not only in Afghanistan and South Asia but also in various other international locations. His commitment to the arts and civil society is evident through his extensive involvement and leadership.
Omaid, along with his wife, Lima Halima-Ahmad, and their daughter, Hasti Lima-Sharifi, split their time living between Virginia and Istanbul.
ArtLords Omaid
ArtLords Foundation: Sharifi co-founded ArtLords in 2014 with Kabir Mokamel, a fellow artist and activist. ArtLords is a grassroots movement that uses art to promote social and political change in Afghanistan. The organization’s mission is to transform Afghanistan’s public spaces into platforms for civic engagement and dialogue. ArtLords has completed over 2,000 murals and street art projects across Afghanistan, addressing issues such as corruption, women’s rights, and peace-building.
Artwork and Initiatives: Sharifi’s artwork often features bold, colorful designs and powerful messages. Some of his most notable works include the “Enough is Enough” Campaign, which uses portraits of Afghan women to challenge gender-based discrimination, and the “I See You” Campaign, which calls for an end to corruption in Afghanistan. Sharifi’s murals can be found in public spaces across Kabul, as well as in other cities and provinces in Afghanistan.
Activism: Sharifi’s activism extends beyond his artwork. He has organized numerous campaigns and events to raise awareness about social and political issues in Afghanistan. He has also worked with local communities, government agencies, and international organizations to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance.
16 Days of Activism with Voices of Solidarity Honoree Omaid Sharifi
Watch as Omaid Sharifi explains about the Murals, he has painted in Afghanistan and around the world and what Art Therapy means to him.
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Awards & Accomplishments
2024
2022
Global Pluralism Award Laureate
2021
INAUGURAL SHEERAN PRIZE WINNER
2018
2016 Accountability Innovation Award Winner
2017
Anti-Corruption Excellence Award
2015
Afghanistan Social Media Outreach Award Winner
Fellowships, Board Memberships and Honors
2022-2025
2020
2020
2020
2017
2016
2011
Asia Society 21 Fellow
If you want to do anything towards change, especially if it’s constructive change to bring about music, theatre, galleries, paintings, all of that, then you face a lot of backlash, but also a lot of support. People treat you like a celebrity, but also as an infidel that should be killed.
Omaid Sharifi