Born in Alexandria in 1961 and graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in 1986. Salwa Participated in several group exhibitions after graduation. A private painting exhibition at the Spanish Cultural Center in Alexandria in 1993. Participated with “painting” works in the Fine Arts Salon Competition for small artworks affiliated with the National Center for Fine Arts in 1998.
She translated from English a selection of letters from the book "Letters on Cézanne" by the poet Maria Rainer Rilke, which the Austrian poet used to exchange with his wife Clara, reviewing the retrospective exhibition of the artist Cézanne and revealing the artistic life during that period. The book was published in Alexandria by "Korasat" publications in 1993 under the title "Like a dog looking in the mirror and thinking there is another dog" Salwa turned her attention to photography, so she participated in several workshops and artistic photography residencies, including a workshop and residency in Marseille with writers and photographers in 2001 organized by La Friche Belle De Mai Foundation. The workshop revolved around the relationship between the two cities of Marseille and Alexandria and the areas of similarity and difference between them, and the link is the Mediterranean Sea.
In 2004, she participated with a group of female artists in a group exhibition at Aisha Fahmy Palace in Zamalek. The exhibition was curated by artist Reem Hassan. The participating work was three notebooks assembled by hand from cotton paper, in which she combined photography, collage, and poetic texts.
In 2005, she held a photography exhibition entitled “The Passerby” at “Mashrabia” Gallery in Cairo.
In 2006, she participated in a photography workshop and residency in Marseille organized by the ECUME Foundation and under the patronage of the Minister of Culture in the Syrian Arab Republic entitled "Artists in the City, Family Photos", in which artists from France, Egypt, Syria and Portugal participated and the works were displayed in one of the Syrian palaces.
From 1999 to 2019, she collaborates with the writer Alaa Khaled in publishing and editing the non-periodic book "Places", which is concerned with the poetic and culture of the place through texts and photography that reflect the cultural diversity in Egypt. Twelve books have been published.
In 2009, the Amkenah magazine members were nominated for a residency in Los Angeles to conduct research, they chose to document the lives of Arab immigrants in Los Angeles through photography and dialogues, with the participation of Alaa Khaled. They documented the journey of Arab immigrants, including musicians, architects, scientists and doctors, who talked about their journey to a new life in Los Angeles and their memories of their homeland. Organized by MAK Foundation for Arts and Architecture in one of the heritage architectural houses, Fitzpatrick Leland House.
In 2014, she held a photography exhibition “Intersections” at Behna Art Space in Alexandria.
In 2017/2018, Salwa organized and participated in an interactive workshop with 5 female artists. The idea of the workshop was derived from anthropological texts by researcher Clarissa Pinkola and her book "Women Who Run with the Wolves" and by Syrian writer Firas Al-Sawah about his book "The Mystery of Ishtar" about women, instinct, nature and the sacred woman in ancient civilizations and an attempt to recover forgotten and neglected areas in the true feminine soul. They held an exhibition of the workshop's products at the Alexandria Atelier , Jesuit Cultural Centre in Alexandria and Darb 18/17 Art space in Cairo. Salwa Rashad's works were represented by five works executed using the "encaustic painting" technique, drawing with hot beeswax and oxides. And works executed using artistic photography.
In 2020, she was part of the jury and proposed with the group of juries the idea of the Alexandria Photo Marathon, which was organized by the Danish Egyptian Institute DEDI and managed by the artist Rana El Nemr. The exhibition was held at the Bsarya Art Space in Alexandria.
In 2022 participated in the Agenda Exhibition at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina .
In 2022, through the “Zoom” program, participated in the Visual Anthropology Conference held at the University of Montreal in Canada. The theme of the conference was based on a text by Pierre Nora, “Places of Memory.” Salwa presented a photo slide show that she had taken and discussed about the link of some of the practices and rituals that Egyptians are still practice , while their origins go back thousands of years to ancient time, as they inherit them. Her presentation was titled “ Tapestry Of Time “
2023 Participated in a group exhibition "Threads" At Shelter Space in Alexandria, the idea of the exhibition is about memory, the curator of the exhibition was Ms. Sahar Behairy.
In 2024, she participated in the general exhibition at the Palace of Arts in Cairo
In 2024, she held a solo exhibition at "Moulk" Art Space in Alexandria. The title of the exhibition is "Searching for Meaning"
In 2025 participated in the annulled international exhibition which is held in the GEM Grand Egyptian Museum organised by Art Today association under the name Empower Her
