Artist Rama Duwaji Teaches Ceramics While Husband Debates NYC Politics

Rama Duwaji, an artist and ceramist, chose to teach a ceramics class at a popular bistro in Brooklyn on the evening of the New York City mayoral debate, where her husband, Zohran Mamdani, was one of the candidates. Duwaji, 28, conducted a workshop on ceramic tile design at Huda, a Levantine restaurant in East Williamsburg, rather than attending the debate featuring her husband, Mamdani, alongside former Governor Andrew Cuomo and political commentator Curtis Sliwa.

The workshop, which cost $95 per ticket, began at 17:00 and concluded at 19:30, just half an hour after the debate commenced. Attendees had the opportunity to design their own ceramic tiles, focusing on themes of “fruit iconography with damascene tile design.” Duwaji was seen leading the class dressed in black with gold jewelry, using a projector to display various underglaze combinations for participants.

While Duwaji engaged with her students, Mamdani, 33, was navigating challenging exchanges with Cuomo, who aimed pointed criticisms at him during the debate. The scheduling of Duwaji’s workshop, part of a four-week series showcasing different creatives, raised questions about its timing relative to the political event. The details of the class were posted on the restaurant’s Instagram prior to the debate, although it remains unclear how long in advance the workshop was planned.

Duwaji’s absence from the debate contrasts with Sliwa’s wife, who was present at the event held at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Mamdani and Duwaji first crossed paths on the dating app Hinge in 2021. Duwaji, originally from Texas and of Syrian descent, balances her work as a ceramist and illustrator, having recently published illustrations in outlets such as New York Magazine. The couple celebrated their wedding in July 2023 after four years of dating, and they reside in a rent-stabilized apartment in Astoria, Queens.

This unique intersection of Duwaji’s artistic commitments and Mamdani’s political aspirations highlights the multifaceted lives of those involved in New York’s vibrant cultural and political scene.