Release of The Queer Arab Glossary

Marwan Kaabour’s debut book The Queer Arab Glossary published by Saqi Books on June 6 in Europe and September 17 in North America.

The Queer Arab Glossary is the first published collection of queer Arabic slang. This bold guide captures the lexicon of the queer Arab community in all its differences, quirks and felicities. Featuring fascinating facts and anecdotes, it contains more than 300 terms, ranging from the humorous to the harrowing, serious to tongue-in-cheek, pejorative to endearing.

Fetauring contributions by Saqer Almarri, Nisrine Chaer, Sophie Chamas, Rana Issa, Adam HajYahia, Mejdulene Bernard Shomali, Hamed Sinno and Abdellah Taïa.

Pre-Order here

Cover of “The Queer Arab Glossary”
Interior spread of “The Queer Arab Glossary”
Interior spread of “The Queer Arab Glossary”
Interior spread of “The Queer Arab Glossary”

Marwan Kaabour is a graphic designer, artist and occasional writer. His interdisciplinary practice builds pathways between communication and publication design, curation, pedagogy and political activism. Alongside his independent projects, he works with non-profit institutions, companies and individuals in arts and culture sectors. In 2019, Marwan founded Takweer, an online platform and expanding archive of queer narratives in Arab history and popular culture.

Marwan moved from his hometown Beirut to London in 2011 to pursue a master's degree in Graphic Design from the London College of Communication, before joining renowned design agency Barnbrook. After more than seven years of diverse experience with Barnbrook, first as Designer and later as Senior Designer, he founded his own studio in 2020.

His commissioned design work spans visual identities, publication and exhibition design, marketing campaigns, wayfinding systems and art direction, among others.

Commissioners include: Art Basel, Banksy, Barbican, Christie's, Edge of Arabia, Fenty, Fondation Giacometti, Hayward Publishing, Museum Brandhorst, Phaidon, Renaissance Renaissance, Serpentine Galleries, Somerset House, South London Gallery, Thames & Hudson, The Mosaic Rooms, V&A Museum , Wellcome Collection, Zaha Hadid Foundation

Commissions and General Enquiries info@marwakaabour.com

New website in development
Regular updates via Instagram

Words and work featured in

  • Another Magazine
  • New York Times
  • BBC Arabic
  • L’Orient-Le Jour
  • It’s Nice That
  • Gay Times
  • Dezeen
  • Designweek
  • Grafik
  • Beirut Design Week
  • L’Officiel Levant Hommes

Written for

  • Ajam Media Collective
  • Chutney Magazine
  • Journal Safar
  • Hayya Magazine

Talks & Workshops

  • Harvard University Graduate Student Union
  • Design Museum (London)
  • London Design Festival
  • Arab Image Foundation
  • Bishopsgate Institute
  • SOAS University of London
  • London College of Communication
  • University of Brighton
  • Camberwell College of Arts

Marwan Kaabour مـــروان قعبــــور

Index Info
Index
  • The Rihanna Book
    Cover of the Rihanna book
  • Art Basel
    Marketing posters for Art Basel in Basel 2018
  • Somerset House: Daydreaming with Stanley Kubrick
    Exhibition identity for Daydreaming with Stanley Kubrick
  • Lotic: Power
    Cover art for "Power" by Lotic with die-cut
  • V&A: Disobedient Objects
    Marketing posters for Disobedient Objects at the V&A Museum
  • Insecurity Checkpoint
    Grindr inspired artwork for Journal Safar by Marwan Kaabour
  • CAPSID
    Book cover for CAPSID by John Walter
  • Action of Street / Action of Room
    Book cover for Action of Street – Action of Room by Febrik for the Serpentine Galleries
  • Banksy's Dismaland: Cruel Designs
    Exhbition graphics for Cruel Designs at Banksy's Dismaland
  • Bashar Assaf
    Print design for Bashar Assaf collection Metamorphosis
  • Animal Vegetable Mineral
    Book cover for Animal Vegetable Mineral at the Wellcome Collection
  • V&A: Censored!
    Exhibition design for Censored! at the V&A Museum
  • Fashion Photography Next
    Book cover for Fashion Photography Next by Thames & Hudson
  • Chicago Imagists
    Book cover for Chicago Imagists published by Hayward Publishing
  • Febrik: Play I'll Follow You
    Exhibition graphics for Febrik Exhibition Play I Follow You at the South London Gallery
  • David Bowie Soho Walking Map
    Design of David Bowie Soho walking map
  • Strike!
    Cover design for Strike! magazine
  • Dutchmann: Delft Surfboard
    Surfboard design for Dutchmann