Artist Statement

<< STATEMENT >> << RESUME CV >>  << RECENT WORK >>  << ART ARCHIVE >>

Figurative Abstraction Artist Statement (2020-present)
My artistic journey explores formal elements through the lens of my cultural heritage and evolving American identity. I create dreamlike compositions that merge art-historical and cultural patterns with reflections on consumerism, forming immersive environments of fluid forms and saturated color.

Guided by experimentation and intuition, my practice celebrates storytelling and abstraction. Through the accumulation and adaptation of shapes and colors, I develop vivid, flat, figurative abstractions suited for medium to large paintings and murals. My compositions balance patterns, lines, and colors that both define and dissolve forms, engaging in a global dialogue while maintaining a personal voice.

My works are democratic spaces—free of illusion—where anything can exist. They examine pop culture, consumerism, and identity to encourage cultural understanding and connection. Beginning with sketches, I build compositions through spontaneous layers of acrylic, spray paint, and sustainable materials, reflecting both the evolution of American culture and my own hybrid identity.

The Chaos and Aleppo to Kyiv series narrative (2015-2019)
My artistic journey is a profound exploration of human emotions, heritage, and social concerns. As an artist of Syrian descent, I am committed to fostering connections to diverse communities. My work delves into the cross-cultural dynamics, striving for better cultural understanding and bridge-building. The work is steeped in iconic undertones, drawing from my fascination with my heritage, migration, and American culture. The canvases are democratic spaces devoid of illusion or perspective, depicting the imperfect world through my new American identity.

I adeptly integrate elements into my daily artistic practices, reflecting my social concerns. The work has gestural, figurative, and abstract motifs, blending references of conflicts from Aleppo to Ukraine with urban scenes of collapsed buildings and debris. The work reveals haunting and disturbing scenes painted with a palette of colorful and earth tones that emerge from the canvas with a vigorous life force.