Artist Rama Duwaji Teaches Ceramics While Husband Debates NYC Mayoral Race

While her husband, Zohran Mamdani, engaged in a heated New York City mayoral debate, his artist wife, Rama Duwaji, chose to teach a ceramics class at a popular bistro in Brooklyn. This striking contrast played out on the evening of March 14, 2024, as Mamdani faced off against prominent figures, including former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.

Duwaji’s Ceramics Workshop Takes Center Stage

Duwaji, 28, was at Huda, a trendy Levantine bistro located in East Williamsburg, where she instructed a workshop focused on ceramic tile design. The workshop, priced at $95 per ticket, ran from 17:00 to 19:30, concluding just half an hour after the debate commenced. Attendees of the workshop were invited to explore “fruit iconography with damascene tile design,” creating their own tiles to take home.

Photos from the event captured Duwaji dressed in black attire adorned with gold jewelry, standing before a display of underglaze combinations that participants could use. The workshop was part of a four-week series featuring various creatives, suggesting Duwaji’s commitment to her art and community, despite the political backdrop unfolding across the East River.

Political Dynamics and Personal Choices

While Duwaji focused on her class, Mamdani, 33, found himself navigating pointed critiques from Cuomo during the debate. The contrasting choices of the couple highlighted the balance between personal passion and public obligation. Notably, while Duwaji was absent from the debate, Sliwa’s wife attended, and Cuomo, who is divorced, was also without a partner by his side.

The couple’s relationship originated on the dating app Hinge in 2021, leading to a wedding in July 2023 after four years of dating. Duwaji, born in Texas with Syrian heritage, has gained recognition not only as a ceramist but also as an illustrator, with her work recently featured in publications such as New York Magazine.

Currently, the couple resides in a rent-stabilized apartment in Astoria, Queens, where they continue to navigate their respective careers while supporting one another. Duwaji’s choice to prioritize her workshop over the political event reflects a commitment to her artistry, even amid the political ambitions of her husband.

This incident serves as a reminder of the personal narratives that exist alongside public life, illustrating how individuals balance their passions with the expectations of their partners’ political careers.