Every month, Rama Duwaji, the artistic wife of mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, creates a list of things that inspire her to make art. In October, her inspirations included the relief work on the facade of Grand Central Terminal and the patterns of a Jacquard loom.
However, Duwaji surprised some of her followers with a post on her Instagram stories on October 12. She posted four broken heart emojis along with a photo of notorious terrorist propagandist Saleh Al-Jafarawi, also known as Mr. FAFO, after he was killed by an anti-Hamas militia in Gaza.
Despite being poised to become the youngest first lady in New York City history, Duwaji’s illustrations often target American imperialism and criticize the US’s support for Israel.
Her artwork includes images depicting “Israeli war crimes” funded by New York charities and commentary on American imperialism. She is vocal about her pro-Palestinian views, even though she was born in Houston and grew up in New Jersey.
Living in the shadows during her husband’s campaign, Duwaji’s art condemns Israeli “war crimes” and American imperialism. She describes herself as an animator and illustrator from Damascus, reflecting her Syrian-American roots.
She met Mamdani in New York City in 2021 and the couple married in a civil ceremony earlier this year. Despite her silence during the campaign, Duwaji has been featured in glowing profiles by Vogue and the New York Times.
Behind the scenes, Duwaji has been actively involved in shaping Mamdani’s brand and social media strategy. Her edgy drawings have been featured in various publications and art galleries.
In an interview, Duwaji expressed her focus on creating art that reflects her experiences and the issues she cares about. She uses her voice as a US citizen to speak out about events in the US, Palestine, and Syria.
