Influenced by the socio-political events of her surroundings, current events and society, artist Asma Fayoumi describes her work as having “often depicted life, events and protests around me. I often painted my obsessions, emotions, and the spirit of things. I painted Damascus, children and mothers in states of happiness and overwhelmed with emotions.”

Born in Amman, Jordan, Asma Fayoumi (1943) graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus, studying under the Italian artist Guido La Regina. In these formative years, she became part of the Syrian abstraction movement, which was influenced by the political climate and the stroveneed for social change. Over her long career, Fayoumi has painted in different styles and explored various subjects. In the beginning, she worked as an abstractionist, painting the streets of Damascus. Over time, her works became more expressive, with layered symbols, dynamic figures, and energetic brushwork. With both sensitivity and intuition, she articulates a wide range of emotions, from anxiety and pain to warmth and tenderness.

Fayoumi’s work has been shown internationally at galleries such as Whitechapel, London, and has been acquired by private and public collections such as the Barjeel Art Foundation in Dubai and the National Museum in Damascus. After numerous international solo and group exhibitions, she is acknowledged as a pioneer who has paved the way for future generations of female Syrian artists.

Biography and image courtesy of Atassi Foundation