Laila Shereen Sakr

Laila Shereen Sakr is an artist and Associate Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara. A media theory and practice pioneer, she demonstrates how digital platforms can predict and influence socio-political change. Her 2011 Twitter analysis predicted the fall of Muammar Qaddafi in Libya, showcasing her ability to harness technology to understand major political shifts. Her exhibitions like Capital Glitch and the book Arabic Glitch explore the fractures within digital systems, using glitches as a metaphor to reveal cultural and political disruptions in the United States and globally. As VJ Um Amel (the moniker she uses for her public-facing productions), she combines artistic innovation with critical inquiry, using data visualization and digital art to transform how we understand political engagement, social movements, and cultural identity. She is a Public Voices Fellow of the OpEd Project.