Biography

Oussama Diab

Palestine

Oussama Diab

Born in 1977, Damascus, Syria
Lives and works in Damascus, Syria

The large, colourful canvases of Palestinian artist Oussama Diab employ pop-art and childlike imagery as a means of exploring global political concerns. Balloons, bananas and water guns function as symbolist interpretations of current events - in contrast to the universality of their nondescript background. Both figurative and abstract, Diab’s compositions relay stories of love and hate within a conflicted society.

Born in 1977 in Damascus, Oussama Diab lives and works in the city. A graduate of the Faculty of Fines Arts in Damascus in 2002, he has featured in group exhibitions throughout the region and is the recipient of numerous awards in including the Shabbab Young Artists exhibition in Syria. Solo shows include Ayyam Gallery DIFC, Dubai (2012); Ayyam Gallery Beiruit (2010-11); Ayyam Gallery Dubai (2010); Ayyam Gallery Damascus (2009).


Education:

2002. Diploma in painting - faculty of fine arts in University of Damascus.


Solo exhibitions:

2020. Herinnering en hoop. De Nederlandse jaren Project space Circa...dit, Arhem, Netherlads
2016. Black and White...Memories. Pedrami Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium
2016. Recent work / Oussama Diab. Faculty of Law, Radboud Universitz, Nijmegen, Netherlands
2015. What Happened Here. Ayyam Gallerz, Beirut, Lebanon
2012. In the Name of Fredom. Ayyam Gallery, DIFC, Dubai, UAE
2011. 2012 - solo exhibition, Ayyam Gallery, Damascus, Syria
2010. Solo exhibition, Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2010. Solo exhibition, Ayyam Gallery, Beirut, Libanon
2009. Solo exhibition, Ayyam Gallery, Damascus, Syria.
2006. Room, with Abed Al-Mouhsain, Ayyam Gallery, Damascus, Syria.


Group exhibitions:

2021. Egypt International Art Fair. Cairo, Egypt
2020. Nieuwe Aarde: 12 visioenen. Westerkerk, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2020. Pop-up Mosque. CBK Zuidoost, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2019. Silvertant solo. Galerie Terra, Delft, Netherlands
2019. My Palestinian Identity. De Goffert, Nijmegen, Netherlands
2019. KunstRaffinaderij 2019. Stevenskerk, Nijmegen, Netherlands
2019. Storage and Retrieve. Project space Circa...dit, Arnhem, Netherlands
2019. Festival der Kunsten 2019. Nijmegen, Netherlands
2019. Nijmeegse Nachtwacht. Nijmegen, Netherlands
2018. Kunstmaand. Ameland verbindt. Ameland, Netherlands
2018. Festival der Kunsten 2018. Nijmegen, Netherlands
2018. Geef ons het museum, i. s. m. Arnon Grunberg. Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2017. KunstRaffinaderij. Stevenskerk, Nijmegen, Netherlands
2017. Festival der Kunsten 2017. Nijmegen, Netherlands
2016. Festival der Kunsten 2016. Nijmegen, Netherlands
2015. Syria Off Frame. Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Venice, Italy
2014. Contemporary Arabia. Ayyam Gallery, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2014. R-evolution. Ayyam Gallery, Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE
2014. Fluid Forms II. Samsung Blue Square, Seoul, South Korea, Busan Museum of Art, Busan, South Korea
2014. Contemporary Uprising: Art from the Middle East. Nest Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland
2013. Art Fair Dubai. Dubai, UAE
2012. Melting Pot. Ayyam Gallerzy, Beirut, Lebanon.
2012. Art Fair Dubai. Dubai, UAE
2011. Selection from The Samawi Collection. Ayyam Gallery, Al Quaz, Dubai, UAE
2010. Journées de la photographie, collective exhibition in photography, French culture center, Damascus, Syria
2009. Cement art, collective exhibition and workshop, French culture center, Damascus, Syria
2009. Workin’art, French Culture center, Damascus, Syria
2007. Participation in competition for the youth painters. Ayyam Gallery-Damascus - Syria.
2006. Collective Exhibition in memory of the land Day - Naji Al-ali Gallery.
2006. Collective Exhibition in memory of the land Day - Aleppo - Syria.
2006. Collective Exhibition at "Ahmed Shaouki Gallery" - Cairo - Egypt.
2006. Small painting's Biennially - Canada.
2006.  Palestinian Artists Exhibition - Albaath Gallery - Damascus - Syria.
2006. Al-Qatan foundation” - Mustafa Ali Gallery - Damascus - Syria.
2005. The Annual ministry of Culture Exhibition - Damascus - Syria.
2005. Palestinian Artists Exhibition - Albaath Gallery - Damascus - Syria.
2004. The Annual youth Exhibition – Al Rewaq Gallery - Damascus - Syria.
2004. The Annual ministry of Culture Exhibition - Damascus - Syria.
2003. The Annual youth Exhibition – Al Rewaq Gallery - Damascus - Syria.
2003. The Annual ministry of Culture Exhibition - Damascus - Syria.
2002. Graduates faculty of fine arts Exhibition.  French Culture Center - Damascus - Syria.
2002. The Annual youth Exhibition – Al Rewaq Gallery - Damascus - Syria.
2002. The Annual ministry of Culture Exhibition - Damascus - Syria.
2001. Collective Exhibition in the faculty of fine arts Gallery - Damascus - Syria.
2001. The Annual ministry of Culture Exhibition - Damascus - Syria.
2000. The Annual ministry of Culture Exhibition - Damascus - Syria.
1997. Collective Exhibition in painting - Faculty of literature - University of Damascus, Damascus, Syria


Prizes:

2002. Estimation prize of the annual youth Exhibition.
2003. Estimation prize of the annual youth Exhibition.
2004. First prize of the annual youth Exhibition.