Dr. Hiba Ali is a digital artist and scholar whose visionary practice spans immersive digital environments, sculpture-based installations, moving images, garments, and sound. The term digital somatics was coined by Ali to describe a groundbreaking method of engaging the body–mind–spirit connection through the principles of game design, worldbuilding, and narrative storytelling. Through virtual reality, 3d animation, and augmented reality, Ali creates portals of solace and care—slowing down time and transforming digital space into a liminal site for healing and collective transformation. In 2025, Ali founded the digital somatics institute (DSI), a nomadic physical and digital community dedicated to experimental digital art practices, with a focus on XR, VR, AR and somatic–therapeutic frameworks.

Ali is the recipient of the 2024 Performing And Creative Arts Fellowship from the American Institute of Indian Studies, a 2024–2025 cohort member of NEW INC’s Art & Code Track, and during 2024–2026, Ali serves as a fellow in Digital at Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart, Germany.

Ali’s work has achieved international recognition with exhibitions at leading institutions and festivals including the New Museum, Belladonna, Index NYC (New York City), Vbkö (Vienna), Ars Electronica (Linz), Onassis Stegi (Athens), Chicago Architecture Biennial, Deichtorhallen (Hamburg), re:publica (Berlin), Centre A (Vancouver), Horse Hospital and 15 Folds (London), Portland Art Museum, InterAccess and Trinity Square Video (Toronto), Alserkal Avenue (Dubai), Dhow Countries Music Academy (Zanzibar), Rehnsgatan 3 (Stockholm), Kalakendra (Dhaka), UMAM D&R (Beirut), Oberhausen International Short Film Festival, imc5533 (Istanbul), and FILE – Electronic Language International Festival (São Paulo), among others.

Artist Code: 2071