About
Bahjat is a surrealist self-portrait artist working in a painterly expressionistic style with a primarily figurative subject matter. Creating deeply atmospheric canvases with her reoccurring female protagonist, Bahjat is able to address the intricacies of life. Upon visiting the Philippines in 2016 Bahjat’s palette and visual narrative drastically changed, moving (away from dark and static compositions) towards illuminated backgrounds incorporating elements of nature and water within her portraits. Allowing her subconscious to take control Bahjat depicts densely filled imaginative narratives in still-life settings that yearn towards a more simple life.
Born in Damascus, Syria in 1991, Noor Bahjat now lives and works in the United Arab Emirates. Bahjat studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts, the University of Damascus from which she graduating with honors. Although struggling with perspective throughout her entire degree, Bahjat was able to transform this weakness into her iconic still-life style. Her work is housed in public and private collections throughout the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Solo and group exhibitions include Ayyam Gallery Dubai (2019, 2015); Atassi Foundation, Dubai (2019); Ward Gallery, Dubai (2019); Galerie Stephanie, Manila (2018, 2016); Art Space DA: MDAA, Soul (2017); Maraya Art Centre, Sharjah (2017); Gli Acrobati Gallery (2017), Turin.
Resume:
Education:
2014 BA painting, Faculty of Fine Arts- University of Damascus, Syria
2010 Drawing course The Russian Center, Damascus Syria
2009 Fine art course, Adham Ismail Art Center, Damascus, Syria
EMPLOYMENT:
2023-2024 Visual art teacher at Takwin program by Abdullah Alghurair Foundation
2016-2018 Visual art teacher at Al Jalila Cultural Center for children um Suqaim Rd-Dubai
Residencies And Workshops:
2023 Takween facilitator orientation workshop by Abdulla al Ghurair
2023 Art residency at Cosmo Dreams Munich 2017 Yellow training with Segni Mossi at Al Jalila Cultural Centre
2017 Ta’arouf workshop with SAFIR Art and Sharjah Art Biennial
2016 printmaking workshop with the master Pandy Aviado, Manila, Philippines
2016 Residency, Galerie Stephanie, Manila, Philippines
2014 – 2015 Residency, Ayyam Gallery,Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE
2012 workshop, Mostafa Ali Gallery, Damascus, Syria
Selected Solo Exhibition:
2020 FLASHBACK with ArtBooth at World Art Dubai, UAE
2019 Vantage Point Ayyam Gallery, AlQouz, Dubai, UAE
2016 Which one is your thread, Galerie Stephanie, Curator: Liv Romualdez Vinlua, Parc Plaza, Manila, Philippines
2015 Young artist in residency Graduation show Ayyam Gallery, Curator: Jules Riechelman, AlQouz, Dubai, UAE
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2023 Cloaked in her essence at Gallerie Stephanie, Manila Philipines
2023 Hajimemashite! All Female Group show at Bridge Mogura Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2022 in the presence of memory at Biblotik gallery, Cairo, Egypt
2022 Planting smiles to yield love at CAP Kuwait
2022 Survivors Ability at ABC art space Verdun Beirut with Art booth, Lebanon
2021 You are not alone at Salon Am Moritzplatz, Berlin Germany
2021 Expo 2020 Syrian Pavilion, Dubai UAE
2020 You are not alone an international mail art exhibition, Penticton Art Gallery Canada
2020 Time to reload at Gliacrobati Torino-Italy
2020 Break -Art from the Middle East- with Art booth at Salwa Zeidan Gallery Abudhabi UAE
2019 Personal Revolution Atassi Foundation at Alserkal Avenue warehouse 60/Dubai UAE
2019 Transcendence Ward Gallery D3 Dubai UAE
2018 The Image implicated, Galerie Stephanie Manila. Philipines
2018 Cultural Narratives By Selections at Alserkal Avenue Warehouse 61 Dubai UAE
2018 Utopia, Galerie Stephanie Manila Philipines
2017 Splendida, Ardente at the Gli Acrobati Gallery, Turin, Italy
2017 Do the Fish Ever Get Seasick Syria art exhibition at artspace DA: MDAA Seoul Korea
2017 Collectivity: object and association in the UAE art world at Maraya Art Center with “44 Untitled” Sharjah UAE
2016 Group exhibition at Satellite Gallery with Braking News, Dubai UAE
2016 Dubai art fair with RCA secret group with postcards “189” “834” Dubai, UAE
2016 Curiosities Art Fair Philippines At Galerie Stephanie Manila Philipines
2016 Beirut Art Fair with Selection Magazine
2015 May – Young Collectors Auction with Ayyam Gallery. Lot:001
2014 The Human Situations, Faculty of Fine Arts –University of Damascus, Syria
2013 Sketches, Cultural Development Club, Jisr Abyad, Damascus, Syria
2012 Spring Exhibition, Fine Arts Center, AlTijara, Damascus, Syria
Collections:
Bahjat’s works can be found in Barjeel Art Foundation and private collections in the following countries: Damascus – Dubai -Abudhabi-Turin- Beruit- Manila-Seoul-Berlin-Munich-Amsterdam- Canada-Kuwait