Elie Abou Samra

1970, Beirut
A Lebanese painter graduated from the Fine Art Academy of Venice. Residing in Lebanon.

I practice primarily as a painter but also produce photographic, site specific and installation work. In the end, I use whatever means I can to express myself and the social, political, religious and cultural conflict which have formed the larger part of my life experience.

Having lived through 15 years of civil war and witnessing Lebanon yet again on the brink, my work cannot help but express what I see as regressive divisions not just in my country but everywhere; and the constant diminishing, deteriorating value of human life, its loss in conflict reduced to numbers who are these people?

Education2004: BFA, Graduate with high honors, Academy of Fine Arts of Venice - Italy

Workshops and residencies:

2007 Shatana, International Artist Workshop, Shatana - Jordan

2006 Braziers International Artists' Workshop, Oxfordshire,UK. Arts Council England/Braziers International Artists' Workshop Residency in Association with Westbury Farm Studios, Milton Keynes, UK

2005 AIW:A, Artists International Workshop, Aley - Lebanon

2005 Ehden International Symposium, Ehden Lebanon

Common Exhibition:

2010 “Residual Automatisims” Ex – Aurum, Pescara, Italy

2010 “Residual Automatisims” Area E – spo’, Spoltore, Italy

Solo Exhibitions:

2008 'Empathy' at Zico house, beirut, lebanon
2006 Westbury Farm Studios, Milton Keynes - UK

Group Shows:

2010 “Selections” An exhibition of the new waves of Lebanese painters, Qatar

2005 Biennale Alexandria - Egypt

2005 International Peace Day, UNESCO, Beirut - Lebanon

2005 Arts Club Exhibition, American University of Beirut - Lebanon

2005 Memorial of the Lebanese Civil War Association of Lebanese Artists - Lebanon
2004 The Silent Scream American University of Beirut - Lebanon

2004 Prime minister Rasheed Karamy International Exhibition, Tripoli - Lebanon ...