Exhibit runs November 1 - 30 at Rhizome DC - open during all events and by appointment - please email info@rhizomedc.org

Passionately delving into the abstraction of thoughts and emotions through captivating symbols, I'm a devoted calligrapher. My main focus is innovating Arabic lettering techniques.

I also aspire to explore modern expressions in calligraphy, sharing my experiences as a Syrian artist to bridge cultures through compelling compositions.

Breaking from classical norms, I embrace contemporary approaches, infusing letters with cultural and human meanings. Using unique color combinations with organic inks, I explore themes dynamically. In my ongoing quest for modern ways to articulate ideas, I delve into life, humanity, and responses to adversity as an artist provoking new perspectives.

Syrian artist Abdulrahman Naanseh learned Arabic calligraphy with the support of his father, a self-taught calligrapher. Naanseh has excelled in this field with exhibitions at the Arneli Art Gallery during the Beit Misk Festival in Beirut, murals at Damascus University, solo exhibitions in Syria in 2002 and 2005, and recent solo exhibits at Mason Exhibitions Arlington, the Gillespie Gallery of Art, and Fenwick Gallery at GMU.

Naanseh is an Artist Protection Fund Fellow and the 2022 Artist-in-Residence at George Mason University’s School of Art. The Artist Protection Fund (APF) fills a critical unmet need by awarding threatened artists and placing them at welcoming host institutions in safe countries where they can continue their work and plan for their futures. APF places these artists in safe havens for a full year and provides fellowship funding, mentoring, and inclusion in a comprehensive network of artistic and social support. Naanseh is currently an Adjunct Professor teaching Drawing and Arabic Calligraphy courses at George Mason University’s School of Art.