Kais Salman
Biography
Born in Tartous, Syria in 1976, Kais Salman has proven to be an exciting new talent, with the contemporary Arab art world continuing to take notice of his large expressionist works. A graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts Damascus in 2002, he is a prominent member of a young generation of Syrian artists that is currently transforming regional painting. With experiments in depicting the human form, an interest that took hold during his student days, and daring explorations into various mediums and techniques, he has remained at the cutting-edge of art.
Featured in countless group exhibitions in Syria and the Arab world, including the 4th Annual Youth exhibition in Damascus where he took first prize and the inaugural exhibition of the Damascus Museum of Modern Art, Salman has been a regular fixture of high profile shows. Recently he has become essential to Ayyam's lineup participating in such standout events as its "Summer Festival," "Shabab Uprising," "Young Collectors Auction (I and II)" and "Damascus Calling," an exhibition held at Marc Hachem Gallery in New York City in 2008. A favorite among collectors, his work is housed throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.
His 2010 solo exhibition with Ayyam marks an important highlight of the artist's career, confirming his rapid emergence as one of Syria's most revered contemporary painters with his critically acclaimed body of work the "Fashion Series." This new collection of mixed media paintings combines striking (if not controversial) content with an assured and unrestrained approach to painting, demonstrating the ways in which Salman is currently redefining Arab visual culture.
With international art lovers showing increased interest in his work, he was recently profiled in the Wall Street Journal Europe's Weekend Edition as a standout member of the contemporary Middle Eastern art scene. One of Salman's large, arresting canvases recently graced the cover of the magazine in May 2010, a first for an Arab artist.
Artist Press
Wall Street Journal, Contemporary Middle EastDownload PDF (3.9 MB)
Material Girl
Download PDF (39 K)
Artist Exhibitions
Kais Salman Solo Exhibition 30 Jan - 25 Feb, 2010View Exhibition
Shabab Uprising 19 Feb - 19 Apr, 2009
View Exhibition
Ayyam Summer Festival 2007 9 Jun - 13 Sep, 2007
View Exhibition
Selected Works
KS82 Kais SALMAN 'Untitled' 140 X 310 cm. Mixed Media on Canvas 2009. LOCATION: BEIRUT
KS80 Kais SALMAN 'Untitled' 150 X 150 cm. Mixed Media on Canvas 2009 LOCATION: BEIRUT
KS76 Kais SALMAN 'Untitled' 150 X 100 cm. Mixed Media on Canvas 2009 LOCATION: DAMASCUS
KS79 Kais SALMAN 'Untitled' 150 X 150 cm. Mixed Media on Canvas 2009 LOCATION: DAMASCUS
KS97 Kais SALMAN 'Untitled' 120 X 200 cm. Mixed Media on Canvas 2010 LOCATION: DAMASCUS
KS55 Kais SALMAN 'First Face' 120 X 120 cm. Mixed Media on Canvas 2008 LOCATION: DUBAI
KS57 Kais SALMAN 'First Face' 120 X 120 cm. Mixed Media on Canvas 2008 LOCATION: DUBAI