Nadia Merzoug is a Swiss-Algerian artist who grew up in the Valais region of Switzerland. She discovered her passion for painting at age 15 while studying visual arts at ECAV in Sierre, later continuing her education at HEAD in Geneva.
Her work is influenced by Abstract Expressionism and Colour Field Painting, drawing inspiration from artists such as Hans Hofmann, Clyfford Still, and Mark Rothko. What truly defines her art is its strong focus on the experiences of women artists—reflecting the struggles and resilience of painters like Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell, and Anita de Caro, who fought for recognition in a traditionally male-dominated art world.
Nadia’s art carries a clear political message advocating for greater visibility, equality, and representation of women in society and the arts. In recent years, she has expanded her practice to include drawing, printmaking, collage, and installation, often exploring contemporary gender and social issues.
Her recent project, Lip-Dip-Paint, sheds light on the forgotten history of the “Radium Girls”—women who worked in the watchmaking industry from 1918 to 1963, painting dials with radium-based fluorescent paint. Unaware of the deadly effects of radiation, these workers shaped their brushes with their lips, unknowingly ingesting radioactive material. Many suffered severe illnesses, including cancer and jaw necrosis, paying with their lives for the brilliance of Swiss watchmaking.
She currently lives and works in Geneva and regularly exhibits both in Switzerland and internationally.