Born in Switzerland, Suleika was brought up in a Sudanese Sufi Muslim order. She spent her formative years going to school in Switzerland whilst continually travelling to Sudan, Egypt, the UAE or across Europe to practice with her Sufi community. Her upbringing, crossing geographical and religious divides, as well as her inner tension due to being from two cultures, has led to her creating her own unique aesthetic and point of view, occupying and creating a new space for people with hybrid identities. Now based in London, her work is a way for her to cross boundaries and create bridges, a tool to express and process her feelings and emotions. Central to her practice are nuanced and authentic portrayals and stories, as well as educating and challenging harmful stereotypes. Suleika is passionate about finding unity in diversity, her intimate imagery explores themes such as spiritual practices, transcendental experiences, various forms of communities as well as the human condition. She approaches her subjects with empathy and vulnerability and practices non-violence, working towards a more compassionate, ethical and sustainable future.
Contact
suleika.mueller@gmail.com
selected publications:
Document Journal, Vogue Polska, Odda, Primary Paper, Puss Puss, Cap74024, Vogue Italia, L’Officiel Mexico, Vogue Arabia, Novembre, ItsNiceThat, Creative Review, Financial Times HTSI
selected clients:
Net-A-Porter, Farfetch, Marni, Missoni, Liberty, Puma, Axel Arigato, Pucci, Patou, Saloni, Bethany Williams, Pringle of Scotland, Highsnobiety
press:
Performing Stories – British Journal of Photography, May 2023
Rukmini Vijayakumar honours tradition while reaching for contemporary cultural consciousness – Vogue India, May 2023
Photographer Suleika Mueller shoots architect Nevine Nasser in her Islamic heart creation – Document Journal, July 2022
Photographer Suleika Mueller and stylist Nikhil Mansata capture the Muslim in-between – Document Journal, November 2021
Documenting Religion – Creative Review, September 2021
“Western Feminism Judges Women Around The World With Bigotry”: Suleika Mueller On The Harmful Legacy Of Extremism – Vogue Italia, March 2021
Moksha captures the diversity of religious rituals across India – ItsNiceThat, March 2020
Capturing religion, spirituality and mysticism in India – Huck Magazine, April 2020
exhibitions:
Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize by National Galleries Scotland. Edinburgh (UK) 2023.
Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize by The National Portrait Gallery. London (UK) 2022.
As We Gaze Upon Her by Banat Collective. Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi (UAE) 2021.
Reframing History Photo Vogue Festival. BASE Milano, Milan (IT) 2021.