The Unlived, Love Life Freedom, Azza Abo Rebieh

About the Artist

Azza Abo Rebieh (b. 1980, Syria) is a visual artist currently based in Beirut. Her practice moves between painting, drawing, and printmaking. She blends technique and form to create sensuous, finely layered works.

Her materials—such as tulle, thread, ink, watercolor, and leather—are carefully chosen. Each medium adds a new dimension to her exploration of intimacy, emotion, and eroticism.

Artistic Approach

Abo Rebieh’s work lives in the space between lightness and depth. It is delicate but never fragile, playful yet intense. She often uses overlapping layers of netting and fabric. These materials bring out subtle contrasts in color and line.

Through this approach, she creates a tactile world where touch, desire, and memory are deeply felt. Her work asks viewers to pause and engage—not just visually, but emotionally.

Education and Early Work

She graduated in 2002 with a degree in printmaking from Damascus University. Her early focus was on etching and engraving. Over time, she expanded her practice to include textile-based and mixed media techniques.

Exhibitions and Recognition

Abo Rebieh’s first solo shows were held at 392 Rmeil Gallery in Beirut (2018, 2019). In 2022, she presented Yearning at Saleh Barakat Gallery. Her 2024 exhibition and performance 111 took place at Majaz Gallery in Beirut.

In total, she has participated in more than fifteen group exhibitions. In 2006, she won First Prize at the Damascus Annual Youth Exhibition.

Collections

Her works are part of several major collections, including:

• The British Museum (London)

• Institut du Monde Arabe (Paris)

• The Dalloul Foundation (Beirut)

• The Atassi Foundation (Syria)

• The Ostrobothnian Museum (Finland)

Residencies and Awards

Abo Rebieh has completed several prestigious residencies. These include the American Academy in Rome and the Bogliasco Foundation in Italy, as a fellow of the Artist Protection Fund.

In 2025, she received the Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent and spoke on the main stage at the Oslo Freedom Forum.