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Artist Statement
I believe art is about expressing feeling and emotion. Each
time I begin a painting, I have an idea about how it will develop,
but my emotions may take it in a totally different direction. I
allow the feeling of the moment to decide what I create. My
political beliefs, events that affect society, and the human
condition are all subjects that appear in my paintings. I am
passionate about justice and equality, and these themes appear in
much of my work. Art should dare the viewer to go deeper and
challenge his or her own opinion. An opinion or thought matters when
it can be challenged. Only then can truth be revealed.
My paintings provide the ability for me to express myself in
unlimited ways. I also want my work to create an interaction with
the viewer through his or her own emotions, fantasies or thoughts. I
truly believe art should be complex and should invite a person to
look more deeply into the painting. I want the art to evoke
questions and analysis and remain on the viewer’s mind. My work
becomes more personal when someone finds something new in a painting
each time they look at it. There is a powerful message in every
painting if a person chooses to take the time to understand it.
I often work in a series, and while the subjects and sometimes the
style of those series may differ, there is continuity in the bold
colors, textures, patterns and composition that define my work.
Combining or recombining these elements in new ways keeps my
creativity flowing and my paintings fresh.
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Biography: Nabil Mousa
Recognizing a lifelong passion for art and
the need to create, Nabil Mousa decided at the age of 33 to go back
to school and study fine arts. “I realized clearly the direction I
needed to follow,” he says. He attended the University of Tennessee
and set a goal to become a practicing artist even as he pursued his
businessendeavors. An entrepreneur, he has a history of starting up
successful businesses including his first at the age of21—a gas
station/auto mechanic shop and later as a residential real estate
builder and developer in Tennessee.
As he worked to develop his distinctive artistic style, he tapped
into a wellspring of inspiration from his cultural heritage. A
native of Syria, who came to the United States in 1978 at age 12, he
blends the traditions of Middle Eastern motifs with contemporary
design using strong color, texture and unique composition. He also
discovered that his paintings are an outlet for his deep feelings
for justice and civil rights. As a result, his art is often
political, educational, thought-provoking and, sometimes,
controversial. “I want to make a statement and a difference with my
art. I believe that it is my responsibility as an artist to speak
through my paintings,” he comments.
Nabil, who lives in Atlanta, is now a full-time artist. He is
currently working on two major large-scale painting series: one
dealing with civil rights and another as a memorial to those lost in
the 9/11 terrorist attacks and to the fallen soldiers and innocent
civilian victims of the war in Iraq. He has had several one-man
shows, has exhibited extensively and has donated works to
fund-raisers for selected charitable and civic organizations. His
paintings hang in various private collections and public venues.
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