Othman Moussa
Biography
Born in Zabadani, Syria, a rural town on the outskirts of Damascus, in 1974, Othman Moussa has emerged as Syria’s leading Hyperrealist despite economic hardship. Although nurturing his love for art with alternative formal training due to the demands of a grueling schedule that included 12 hour days at a family business, Moussa’s unwavering resolve and artistic prowess led him to a successful partnership with Ayyam Gallery shortly after entering its Shabab Ayyam competition for emerging artists in 2007.
A graduate of the Adham Ismail Centre for Plastic Arts and the Walid Izzat Institute for Sculpture in 2000, he began his artistic career by entering group exhibitions in Syria, including three consecutive years of the annual Youth Salon in Damascus. Holding his own among some of the region’s greats, he made his official debut with Ayyam Gallery alongside distinguished painter and art critic Assad Arabi in “Visual Dialogue,” a two-person exhibit in 2009.
An unmatched draftsman among his peers, Moussa creates still life compositions in the tradition of 17th century Dutch painting, which used a meticulously executed realism to extract the poetic essence of everyday objects. The artist’s choice of subject matter—a lit cigarette, a Syrian clay pot or evil-eye ornaments—are in-line with the hybrid approaches that have been employed by artists in the post-colonial era who seek to assert their identity while traversing international styles. His are the quite moments of Syrian society that are often overlooked, the subtle yet profound beauty that exists away from the busy existence of modern day life.
Artist Exhibitions
Visual Dialogue 7 Mar - 25 , 2009View Exhibition
Artist Publications
Visual Dialogue, Asaad ARABI & Othman MOUSSAView Publication
Selected Works
omu20 Othman Moussa 'Near you' 145x120cm. Oil on Canvas, 2009
OMU35 Othman MOUSSA ‘The Empty Throne’ 150 X 180 cm. Oil on Canvas 2010
OMU42 Othman MOUSSA 'The Kind King' 150 X 180 cm. Oil on Canvas 2011