Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art, Part I
Shafic Abboud, also known as Chafic Abboud, was a renowned Lebanese painter whose artistic journey led him from Beirut to the vibrant art scene of Paris in 1947. Embracing the modernist and abstract movements of the mid 20th century, Abboud honed his skills at the ateliers of prominent artists like Jean Metzinger and Fernand Léger. This exposure influenced his transition from figurative and landscape painting to his signature colorful personal abstractions. Despite his years in France, Abboud remained deeply connected to his oriental roots, drawing inspiration from oral storytelling and Byzantine icons.
Abboud´s creativity extended to ceramics, terracotta, carpets, and lithography. His exceptional talent garnered global recognition, with exhibitions in prestigious venues like Doha's Mathaf and Paris's Institut du Monde Arabe. In May 2012, Beirut Exhibition Center celebrated his artistic legacy in a comprehensive exhibition.
Nabil Nahas is a Lebanese artist and painter living in New York.
Nahas’ paintings have made use of geometric motifs and decorative patterns inspired Levantine art architecture. Nahas also employs traditional Western abstract painting, pointillistic and impressionistic techniques. Sometimes he combines these traditions in brightly colored paintings, suggestive of the richness of nature and of the imagination. One of Nahas’ motifs is starfish, sometimes cast in acrylic paint, on top of which he layered high-chroma acrylic paint.
