Farida Amar is a Creative Director and Communication Theorist based in Los Angeles and she is building visual languages that allow humans to interface with ideas. 

Farida’s formidable talents in both communication theory and practice are undeniable. Early in her career, she held the distinction of being the youngest Art Director in Europe. In this role, she produced industry-leading work that won numerous awards and accolades. While she was able to effectively develop ideas in service of brand awareness, she found herself increasingly drawn towards the ideas themselves. She became preoccupied with the question: What are ideas, and how can they be effectively generated and disseminated?

She has since focused her work on creating and stewarding platforms that nurture radical creative ideas; these communities are designed to hold the space, resources, and focused intent that allow ideas to materialize; to provide oxygen and terra firma for wild new species of thought. As a citizen of these platforms, Farida specializes in helping creative professionals reclaim the visionary side of their work and think outside the scope of their practice.

Currently, Farida serves as the Publisher and Creative Director of Forecast Journal, an art collective and independent biannual publication working exclusively in analog formats. Most recently, Farida also served as Creative Director for ToftH (Transformations of the Human), an organization that considers the philosophical implications of disruptive technologies.

Farida is passionate about wonderment and committed to the pursuit of many interests. She has served her community as the Arts Education and Culture representative for Los Angeles City Council. She is also a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and an experienced pilot with licenses in both rotor and fixed wing aircraft.

contact → info@faridaamar.com | @faridaamar


currently

exhibitions + shows

  • 07.2023 — Listening to The Sky — Arts Letters & Numbers, Averill Park, NY
  • 01.2023 — Forecast : Freedom — Hippo Factory, Los Angeles, CA
  • 06.2022 — ToftH : Cohort 1 Graduation — Ciel, Berkeley, CA
  • 05.2022 — Tom of Finland + Diesel : All Together — The Community, Pantin, France
  • 04.2022 — Tom of Finland + Diesel : All Together  — Studio Cannaregio, Venezia, Italy
  • 03.2022 — Forecast : Sustainability — Naked Eye, Los Angeles, CA
  • 12.2021 — Forecast : Goodhands Market — Ace Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
  • 10.2021 — Forecast : Wolf Heart — Odyssey 21, Compton, CA
  • 09.2021 — Forecast : Contemporary Folklore — West Adams, CA
  • 09.2021 — Forecast : Existence — West Adams, CA
  • 07.2021 — Forecast : Post-Pandemic Reunion — Allies, DTLA, CA
  • 05.2020 — SOVO// : Department of Social Distancing — SoLA Contemporary, South LA, CA
  • 11.2019 — SOVO// : Issue 6 Structure — Neutra Institute Museum, Silverlake, CA
  • 11.2019 — SOVO// : Lecture on Astrophysics & Architecture — Neutra Institute, Silverlake, CA
  • 11.2019 — SOVO// : Lecture on Neuroscience & Architecture — Neutra Institute, Silverlake, CA
  • 07.2019 — SOVO// : Entrepreneurship — Arcana, Culver City, CA
  • 04.2019 — SOVO// : philia — Fashion District Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
  • 03.2019 — SOVO// : Sex — Los Angeles, CA
  • 09.2018 — SOVO// : Women in Music — Fais Do-Do, Los Angeles, CA
  • 08.2018 — SOVO// : Chiho Harazaki — Venice, CA
  • 06.2018 — SOVO// : Fine Art — Small Green Door, Commerce, CA
  • 04.2018 — SOVO// : Twenty-One — Substrate, Hollywood, CA
  • 03.2018 — SOVO// : Nice to Meet You — LA Design Center, South Los Angeles, CA
  • 05.2016 — Unraveled : Galaxies Are Growing Inside Me — Eyedrum, Atlanta, GA
  • 05.2016 — Unraveled : Eventually, Everything Connects — Hazzard Hall, Philadelphia, PA
  • 05.2016 — Unraveled : Sleep Is Not For Those Who Dream — Lock & Key, Hollywood, CA
  • 05.2016 — Unraveled : Crashing Into Walls We’ve Built — The Night Light, Oakland, CA
  • 05.2016 — Unraveled : Old Ways Won’t Open New Doors — Doc's Lab, San Francisco, CA
  • 05.2016 — Unraveled : Glass Will Break and Pain Will Stain — Sunnyvale, Brooklyn, NY
  • 11.2015 — Unraveled : Life & Death — Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia, PA
  • 06.2015 — Unraveled : Untitled Show — The Night Light, Oakland, CA
  • 05.2015 — BCGs Angel Lust Album Release Installation — The Bucket, Long Beach, CA
  • 04.2015 — Unraveled : Untitled Show — The Lexington, Los Angeles, CA
  • 04.2015 — Unraveled : Indoor Storm — Non Plus Ultra, Hollywood, CA
  • 03.2015 — Unraveled : Untitled Show — Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA
  • 02.2015 — Croissant Man Web Series Screening Installations — Madera, Los Angeles, CA
  • 10.2014 — Unraveled : There Could Be Meteors — The Go Lounge, San Diego, CA
  • 10.2014 — Unraveled : There Could Be Meteors — Billy O's, Ventura, CA
  • 10.2014 — Unraveled : There Could Be Meteors — Silverlake Lounge / Los Angeles, CA
  • 08.2014 — Unraveled : Penumbra — VOX POPULI, Philadelphia, PA
  • 07.2014 — Cat's Cradle Street Art — Abandoned House, Mojave Desert, CA
  • 06.2014 — Ascension — Machine Inspired Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
  • 06.2014 — + + + A L T E R + + + — Machine Inspired Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
  • 04.2014 — The Entrance — Machine Inspired Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
  • 02.2014 — Unraveled : The Unraveled Music Festival — Machine Inspired Art, Los Angeles, CA
  • 02.2014 — Unraveled : The Unraveled Music Festival — Beautiful Fül, Los Angeles, CA
  • 02.2014 — Unraveled : The Unraveled Music Festival — Curt Darling, Los Angeles, CA
  • 02.2014 — Unraveled : The Unraveled Music Festival — Pattern Bar, Los Angeles, CA
  • 04.2013 — SPACE : Evcil Kısa Film Günleri — Various Private Homes, Istanbul, Turkey
  • 09.2012 — The Opening of the Universe — Schmiede, Hallein, Austria
  • 05.2012 — Unraveled : Launch Event — The Good Life, Boston, MA
  • 10.2011 — SPACE : The Public Anonymous — Occupy Wall Street Camp, New York, NY
  • 10.2011 — SPACE : The Public Anonymous — Occupy Boston Camp, Boston, MA
  • 04.2011 — SPACE : The Public Anonymous — Royal/T, Culver City, CA
  • 12.2010 — SPACE: Neurosapien Biotechnology — HI-LITE, Los Angeles, CA
  • 09.2010 — SPACE : Neurosapien Suspension — Crane Arts, Philadelphia, PA
  • 08.2010 — SPACE : Neurosapien Love — SPACE, Boston, MA
  • 07.2010 — SPACE : Neurosapien Geometric Landscapes — Bimbache, El Hierro, Spain
  • 05.2010 — SPACE : Blue Common Blanket — Boston Common, Boston, MA
  • 05.2010 — SPACE : Blue Common Heartbeats — Boston Common, Boston, MA
  • 05.2010 — SPACE : Moving Image Lab Friendly With Wild Bears — SPACE, Boston, MA
  • 05.2010 — SPACE : Moving Image Lab Watch — SPACE, Boston, MA
  • 05.2010 — SPACE : Moving Image Lab Survive Survival Training — SPACE, Boston, MA
  • 05.2010 — SPACE : Moving Image Lab Documented — SPACE, Boston, MA
  • 04.2010 — SPACE : Moving Image Lab Play With Knives — SPACE, Boston, MA
  • 04.2010 — SPACE : Moving Image Lab The Intimacy of Division — SPACE, Boston, MA
  • 12.2009 — Self-Inflicted — Lola Montez, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
  • 06.2009 — Fish the Whale — Various Streets, Nuremberg, Germany

past work

  • 06.2021 - 08.2022 — Creative Director, ToftH (Transformations of the Human), Berkeley, CA
  • 10.2020 - 11.2021 — Art Director, Noēma Magazine, Berggruen Institute, Los Angeles, CA
  • 04.2017 - 06.2021 — Creative Director, SOVO// Magazine, Los Angeles, CA
  • 04.2014 - 04.2016 — City Council-member, Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council District 14
  • 03.2014 - 07.2014 — Strategy Consultant, Machine Inspired Art, Los Angeles, CA
  • 01.2014 - 03.2014 — Wildlife Rehabilitator, Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary, Phelan, CA
  • 05.2013 - 12.2016 — Founder, Unraveled Artists, Boston, MA & Los Angeles, CA
  • 06.2011 - 08.2014 — Founder, Comfort Zone Killer LLC, Boston, MA
  • 01.2010 - 12.2013 — Founder, SPACE, Boston, MA & International
  • 08.2008 - 07.2012 — Art Director, Saatchi & Saatchi, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
  • 10.2007 - 03.2008 — Art Director, Nail Communications, Providence, RI
  • 09.2006 - 03.2007 — Curatorial Intern, Wolfsonian, Miami, FL
  • 07.2005 - 12.2005 — Creative Intern, Modernista!, Boston, MA

aviation

  • Commercial IFR Helicopter Pilot
  • Private IFR Fixed Wing Pilot
  • Commercial Glider Student
  • Certified Mooney Caravan Wingman
  • Owns a Mooney M20F named 'Loreto'

education

  • 01.2006 - 06.2007 — Portfolio in Art Direction / Miami Ad School / Miami, FL
  • 01.2006 - 06.2007 — M.S. in Mass Communication Theory / Florida International University / Miami, FL
  • 09.2003 - 12.2005 — B.S. in Marketing Communication / Emerson College / Boston, MA
  • 2003 — Study Abroad / University of Richmond / Rome, Italy
  • 2002 — Study Abroad / Universidad de Salamanca / Salamanca, Spain

published

  • 01.2023 — Forecast Journal Issue 10 / creative direction / Los Angeles, CA
  • 03.2022 — Forecast Journal Issue 9 / creative direction / Los Angeles, CA
  • 09.2021 — Forecast Journal Issue 8 / creative direction / Los Angeles, CA
  • 07.2021 — Noema Magazine Issue 2 / art direction / Los Angeles, CA
  • 08.2020 — SOVO// Magazine Issue 7 / creative direction / Los Angeles, CA
  • 11.2019 — SOVO// Magazine Issue 6 / creative direction / Los Angeles, CA
  • 07.2019 — SOVO// Magazine Issue 5 / creative direction / Los Angeles, CA
  • 05.2019 — SOVO// Magazine The Analogue Negative / layout and design / Los Angeles, CA
  • 04.2019 — SOVO// Magazine Issue 3.5 / layout and design / Los Angeles, CA
  • 03.2019 — SOVO// Magazine Issue 4 / creative direction / Los Angeles, CA
  • 06.2018 — SOVO// Magazine Issue 3 / creative direction / Los Angeles, CA
  • 06.2018 — SOVO// Magazine Issue 2 / creative direction / Los Angeles, CA
  • 04.2018 — SOVO// Magazine Issue 1.5 / layout and design / Los Angeles, CA
  • 03.2018 — SOVO// Magazine Issue 1 / creative direction / Los Angeles, CA
  • 06.2015 — The Cardboard Artist film / design / Los Angeles, CA
  • 05.2015 — ВЕТЕР No. 2 / layout and design / Los Angeles, CA
  • 02.2015 — The Holy Automatic / Strength Through Negation / text entry and layout / Los Angeles, CA
  • 12.2014 — ВЕТЕР No. 1 / Spikes / cover design / Los Angeles, CA
  • 12.2014 — ВЕТЕР No. 1 / Sequins / cover design / Los Angeles, CA
  • 08.2014 — Unraveled Lookbook Vol. 001 / creative direction / Los Angeles, CA
  • 08.2011 — The Document Version 1 / writing and layout design / Barcelona, Spain
  • 06.2010 — OFFF Conference / The Internet is Dying / copywriting and graphic design / Paris, France

press

residencies

awards

Artist Statement Video, c. 2009

Currently obsessing over: how the Earth's core reverses its direction of rotation every six years; the Mushroomed podcast by Object Lessons Space; Writings on Air from MIT Press; and Jail Time Records, the collective running a record label from within a Cameroonian prison.

Reviews

"A sense of curiosity and wonder define Farida. She is driven by the belief that no matter how long you live, it is not long enough to explore everything there is to be explored." — Değer Özkan Çötelioğlu, Creative Director, TBWA

"Farida is straightforward and transparent, with no hidden agenda. She is open to the wildest of ideas an artist may suggest, jumping in with questions and clarifications to explore how an idea may be realized. She loves to collaborate with artists to help them find their voice, treating them with dignity and respect." — Kythe Heller, Editor, Forecast Journal

"Farida is the most capable, highly-driven person I have ever had the opportunity to work with. From our initial meeting in 2019, I knew Farida was a powerhouse—however, it wasn't until I started working under her that I was aware of her enormous talent. Farida surrounds herself with an excellent creative team, but honestly, she could easily carry out all the tasks she delegates. If you're looking for consistency, vision, and follow-through, Farida will not disappoint!" — Anya Johnson, Editor, Exposition Review & [PANK] Magazine

"Farida is the hardest working person I know who gravitates towards the complex and the unconventional. She is a clear communicator and well organized professional. Every time I work with her I know that production will run smoothly. She is attentive of her crew and makes it easy for us to complete our tasks on time. She’s fun to work with—I’m always inspired! Her passion for creating opportunities for underrepresented/independent artists in Los Angeles drives the success of SOVO//. Artists gravitate towards her because we can trust her. It’s hard to find people who have your best interest in mind and want to see you grow as an artist." — Andru Perez, Designer, Impact Theory

"Farida is a very creative person who knows what it takes to produce and market her visionary concepts successfully." — Rocco Somazzi, Executive Director, Angel City Arts

"I'm very lucky to have worked with Farida for a little over a year, during which she was a supportive colleague and a relentless creative force. Her ability to jump into big exciting ideas, her drive to make things better, and her ability to carry through on complex tasks are all incredibly impressive. She is hardworking and driven, but also a great listener and collaborator." — Annie O'Connor, Senior Managing Researcher, ToftH

"Farida loves pushing the boundaries of media channels and challenging the norm. She always strives for something new, fresh and bold. More so, she understands the importance of consumer participation—that by making campaigns interactive and attractive, consumers will come to you as a brand and own the content, play with it, share it. Something which is increasingly important in the changing face of our communications landscape." — William John, Creative Director, Saatchi & Saatchi

"I had the privilege to work with Farida for over a year. She's an incredibly supportive colleague and I was immediately impressed with her level of commitment, agility, and tirelessness in her work. I was lucky to be able to collaborate and ideate with her on a variety of projects and I learned so much from her about how and when to strategically stay the course, take risks, and creatively deviate to successfully execute in a fast-moving environment. Her production skills are impeccable and she can be trusted to make the largest and most complex events/programs go off without a hitch, effortlessly problem-solving at a moment's notice. She brings her full self to her work and she's inspired me at multiple junctures to do the same." — Jeanne Dreskin, Director of Art Initiatives, ToftH

"I've worked with Farida for over five years, and there's something undeniable about her character. She's persistent, and she maintains her integrity. Of course, you couldn't resist her natural gift of excellence in all areas of passion and where areas she's uncomfortable in, she has no problem asking for help. Her approach at different obstacles is why you work with her because she knows how to strategize and execute; involving her full self in it. And, Farida does this with authenticity and humanity in full view. I'm proud to call her a great friend and colleague. Oh, did I mention her design skills are impeccable!" — Jeremy Quant, Founder & CEO, Dot Red

Formal references available upon request.