Born in Romania and based in Doha, Qatar, Assil Diab is a renowned Sudanese graffiti artist, graphic designer, and visual artist known as “Sudalove.” As the first female graffiti artist emerging from Sudan and Qatar, she has gained recognition for her impactful work blending art with activism.
A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia, USA, Assil earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design in 2011. In 2021, she was honored with the “10 Under 10 Award,” recognizing her as one of VCU’s top graduates of the decade. Her career spans a wide range of creative endeavors, including designing logos, branding campaigns, and murals for restaurants, cafés, and businesses across the Middle East.
In 2020, Assil received a dissemination award from UNESCO for her self-initiated artwork addressing the coronavirus in Sudan. Additionally, she serves as an honorary cultural ambassador for Qatar Museums (2018–present), with her work featured in countries like Bahrain, Germany, Bangladesh, and the USA.
Her art has appeared in international publications and platforms, including Voice of America, BuzzFeed, BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Deutsche Welle TV (Germany), Agency Agi (Italy), Radio Monte Carlo, She Leads Africa, Asia Times, and more. Her work has also been published in books such as Artisans of the Middle East.
One of her most acclaimed projects, the “Martyrs Graffiti Project,” began during the Sudanese revolution in December 2018. Through this initiative, Assil painted more than 30 murals honoring Sudanese martyrs who were killed by government forces. These murals, displayed on the walls of their homes, pay tribute to their lives and sacrifices, blending powerful storytelling with art to amplify their legacy.