Abdelbaki is the second artist in the New York City Safe Haven Prototype, a multi-organizational residency supporting artists at risk, launched in 2017. The program is supported by ArtistSafety.net, Artistic Freedom Initiative, Westbeth Artists Housing, and Residency Unlimited.
His practice examines racism, religion and politics and their impact on humanity. He describes his work: “I am speaking to the fear inside all of us that keeps us awake…I put a monocle around the open eye to draw attention…painted with striped garments in empty cells…I also see light in that darkness, so I use colors that feel joyous to me. There is hope.”
Education
- Faculty of Fine Arts, Damascus, Syria (2003–2007)
Solo Exhibitions
- 2018 — “First Anniversary Exhibition at the EFA Studio Program,” Elizabeth Foundation for The Arts, New York
- 2017 — “One Eye Open,” George Mason University’s Fine Arts Gallery, Virginia
- 2017 — “Little Syria,” Metropolitan College of New York
Group Exhibitions
- 2018 — “Protest Club,” Elizabeth Foundation for The Arts, New York
- 2018 — “ArtExpo New York,” Khawam Gallery, New York
- 2018 — “(Dis)Figured,” Montoro12 Contemporary Art Gallery, Rome
- 2017 — “BCNA — Business Center for New Americans,” MOKAH Museum, Chelsea, New York
- 2017 — “Do fish get ever seasick,” Art Space DA:MDAA, Seoul, South Korea
- 2017 — “Virtual/Visual Contemporary Art Exhibition,” Noyes Museum of Art, Atlantic City, New Jersey
- 2017 — “BCNA — Business Center for New Americans,” Robert Miller Gallery, New York
- 2016 — “Flight: Explorations in Movement, Migration, and Freedom,” West Branch Gallery & Sculpture Park, Vermont
- 2015 — “First Group Exhibition,” National Center for Visual Arts, Damascus, Syria
- 2015 — “Le Salon De Lahd,” Lahd Gallery, Kent House Knightsbridge, London
- 2015 — “Art Summer Collective,” Artheum & Kozah Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
Awards & Fellowships
- Institute of International Education’s Artist Protection Fund (IIE-APF) (2017)
- AAR Affiliated Fellow, American Academy in Rome (2017)
- Residency award from Vermont Studio Center (VSC), USA (2017)
