Sofia Saleh (French, b. 1991) is a New York-based artist of Franco-Algerian and Yemenite descent, with ancestral roots in the Ouled Nail tribe. Her work explores the traces people leave behind and the stories embedded in these remnants. After graduating from Aix-en-Provence University, her artistic journey took a deeply personal turn following the loss of her father to suicide, which sparked her interest in the imprints of human presence in urban environments.

In 2013, Saleh relocated to New York City, where her practice evolved to include discarded gum as a central medium. She views gum as an intimate and often overlooked trace of individuality, encapsulating the essence of those who once occupied a space. This symbolic material allows her to delve into broader themes of human footprints, identity, and collective memory. By using gum in her work, Saleh connects these individual traces to larger narratives, exploring the impact of war, hunger, and violence against women and children. Her practice uses these subtle remnants to speak to the profound weight of global humanitarian crises and human resilience.

In addition to working with gum, Saleh engages with these themes through performance art and printmaking, often using public spaces to create direct and immersive experiences for viewers. Her interdisciplinary approach aims to address both individual and universal experiences, blending the delicate with the urgent.

Saleh’s work has been exhibited at notable venues such as La MaMa Galleria in New York with the Every Woman Biennial, and at the Monira Foundation at Mana Contemporary in New Jersey. In 2022, her performance in Washington Square Park was featured in Washington Square News. Currently, she is based in New York and is part of the cultural center Mana Contemporary in New Jersey.