ABDALLA Al OMARI

Currently based in Belgium, Abdalla Al Omari, first launched his career in Damascus, shortly after the outbreak of conflict in Syria. Driven by his own experiences of war, he plays with the displacement of identity and power.

However in his new body of work, he conceals the face, where the bodily act or gesture takes precedence over identity, through which he reveals complex psychological states. Situated in everyday scenarios, his figures are caught in a moment of intimacy and unawareness, where he presents their true self, one that is relatable and universal.

Photography occupies a central place in his work, as it serves as the starting point for all paintings. He relies on precise framing to tell a story through the image, while giving clues to what lies outside the field. By playing with perspective and angles, he seeks to create a realistic atmosphere that engages the viewer. His work, consisting of extracting poetic and aesthetic elements from the banality, gives a new perspective on the world around us.

Omari graduated from the University of Damascus with a degree in English Literature while also attending the Adham Ismail Institute for Visual Arts. Later, he worked with pioneering Syrian artists Ghassan Sibai and Fouad Dahdouh. His paintings are housed in the collections of Barjeel Art Foundation, United Arab Emirates; Fenix Museum, Rotterdam; Kamel Gallery, Syria; the Syrian Ministry of Culture, among others worldwide.

Recent exhibitions for the artists include Colegio de San Ildefonso, Mexico (2022); Ayyam Gallery, Dubai (2017); Gangwon Biennale, South Korea; Pinchuk Art center, Kiev; Affenfaust Gallery, Hamburg; Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris; Kusseneers Gallery, Brussels; Strombeck Cultural Center, Belgium (2017); NW Gallery, United Kingdom (2015); Kozah Gallery, Lebanon (2014); and Berlin Biennale (2012).  

http://www.abdallaomari.com/

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

  • 2024 The One Who Sees at Pedrami Gallery ,Antwerp, Belgium

  • 2023 Unsuspecting State at Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, UAE

  • 2022 Selection of Artworks (2020-2022) at Colegio de San Ildefonso Museum , Mexico city, Mexico

  • 2019 The Boat at Theatre National de Bruxelles , Belgium

  • 2017 "The Vulnerability Series" Premiere at Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, UAE 

  • 2017 "The Vulnerability Series-Extended" at Affenfaust Galerie, Hamburg, Germany.

  • 2013 November, Charms Of War at The National Parliamentary Library,Tbilisi, Georgia.


COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS:

  • 2023 Antwerp Artfair , Antwerp Belgium

  • 2018 Un œil ouvert sur le monde arabe group show, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris , France

  • 2018 Gangwon International Biennale 2018, organised in parallel to Winter Olympic Games 2018, South Korea.  

  • 2017 Yalta European Strategy Conference Kiev, Ukraine. group exhibition Curated by PinchukArtCentre. Along with artists: Marina Abramović, Santiago Sierra, Andreas Gursky, Damian Ortega, Shi Xinning, Antony Gormley, EJ.Hill. 

  • 2017 Brajeel art collection’s CHEFS-D’ŒUVRE DE L’ART MODERNE ET CONTEMPORAIN ARABE in Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France 

  • 2017 Kusseneers Gallery Group show, Brussels, Belgium

  • 2017 Strombeek Cultural Center, Belgium 

  • 2016 Jusoor Art Auction, Held by Christies Auction House, Berlin, Germany

  • 2015 A Moving Identity, Cambridge, UK

  • 2015, Jusoor Art Auction, in the support of Syrian students, Los Angeles, USA

  • 2014, 1001 Cartes Pour Les Enfants De Syrie, La Maison Des Assocations, Paris, France

  • 2014, The Last Supper Exhibition, Kozah Art Gallery, Solidere, Beirut, Lebanon

  • 2013, The First Mtskheta International Art Festival (Crossings), Mtskheta, Georgia

  • 2013, Ayyam Young Collectors auctions 15th and 16th, Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, UAE

  • 2012. Shattered Beauty, 8 Gallery, London, UK

  • 2012, Ayyam Young Collectors auctions 13th and 14th, Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, UAE

  • 2012, Open Workshop with pioneering Syrian artists Ghassan Sibai and Fouad Dahdouh, at George Kamel Gallery, Damascus, Syria

  • 2011, Mouth Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon

  • 2010, Graduation Project Exhibition, Adham Ismael Institute, Damascus, Syria

  • 2011-2010-2009, Youth Annual Exhibition, Damascus, Syria

COLLECTION:

  • Fenix Immigration Museum, Rotterdam

  • Barjeel Art Foundation, UAE.

  • Ayyam Gallery (UAE, Beirut, Damascus, London, KSA).

  • Kamel Gallery, Damascus.

  • Syrian Ministry of Culture, Damascus.

  • Private collections around the world. 


PRIZES:

  • 2011, 3rd Prize in Shaghaf Young Artists Contest, Kamel Gallery, Damascus, Syria

VIDEO ART:

  • 2013 I’m alive

  • 2013 Nayef

  • 2012 Extremly Happy About War

  • 2011 Liberte a short video installation made by Abdalla Omari in the beginning of the Syrian revolution 2011 with the pseudonyme: Philip Horani, it was shown in many festivals in Europe including: The 7th Berlin Biennale- Germany- 2012, Le Jasmin l’emportera” Festival, Paris, France- 2011, European Media Art Festival – Osnabruck, Germany- 2012, Syrian Anonymous Exhibition – Nottingham-UK- 2012

PERFORMING ART:

  • The Smell of Musk, ( a duet with Dutch/Swedish choreographer Benno Voorham) 

  • Waiting in the Margins, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, 2014-2015