About

Tamim Sibai (b. 1991, Syria)

by Fann À Porter

Tamim Sibai’s artwork is heavily influenced by interactions with others and his observations of everyday encounters. His artistic focus centers on abstract portraits, which merge the artist’s personal perspective with the painted subject to create an intimate blend. The portraits serve as character studies of both the individuals depicted and Sibai himself, reflecting his emotions towards his subjects. Sibai’s exploration of questions surrounding identity, physicality, psychology, and mythology is evident in his portrayal of his subjects, oscillating between daydream and reality. Sibai’s painting style is characterized by vivid colors and thick layers of paint, which he applies freely and expressively. His artwork is lively and serious simultaneously, with the figures evoking a sense of calm despite the wild and expressionist tone. The eyes of his subjects conceal their emotions but convey a sense of stillness and rigidity.

Tamim Sibai is a Syrian-born artist who was born in 1991 in Damascus. He currently lives and works in Berlin, Germany. Sibai received his Bachelor’s degree in Painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus, Syria in 2014, and his Master’s degree in Fine Arts in Painting from Udk, Class of Prof. Burkhard Held in Berlin, Germany in 2018.

Sibai’s work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including PLATONS HÖHLE Projekt at Mutare Gallery and Blickwechsel at Kunststation in Kleinsassen, both in Berlin. He has also participated in various art fairs, including the POSITIONS Berlin Art Fair. In 2017, Sibai received a graduation grant from the DAAD in Berlin, Germany. Sibai’s work has been featured in catalogs, press, and workshops, and he has won awards for his exceptional artistic talent.

Studies

2018 Master Degree of Fine Arts in Painting at Udk (Universität der Künste Berlin) Class of Prof. Burkhard Held in Berlin, DE
2014 Bachelor Degree of Fine Arts in Painting at Faculty of Fine Arts (Damascus University) in Damascus, SY

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2023 Beyond the Pattern at Kalim Art Space Gallery in Beirut, LB
2022 Opening Ceremony at Grolman Gallery in Berlin, DE
2021 Platons Höhle  Project at Mutare Gallery in Berlin, DE
2019 No Rhythm, But one … at Salong Cocette Atieler in Växjö, SE
2018 One Day at Voodoo 55 Pop-up art space in Berlin, DE
2015 Fake Perfection at Institut Français in Khartoum, SD

Selected Group Exhibitions

2023 Duo, Blickwinkel at Mutare Gallery in Berlin, DE
2023 Reality Show at Fann à Porter Gallery in Dubai, UAE
2023 Interimsausstellung at Mutare Gallery in Berlin, DE
2022 Grolman&friends at Grolman Gallery in Berlin, DE
2022 Blickwechsel at Kunststation in Kleinsassen, DE
2020 Kunstmeile 2020 at Atelier Lücki in Berlin, DE
2020 Künstler der Galerie at Mutare Gallery in Berlin, DE
2020 Kulturnatten at Villa & Trädgård de luxe in Växjö, SE
2019 Künstler der Galerie at Mutare Gallery in Berlin, DE
2019 Karl Hofer Gesellschaft e.V at Udk in Berlin, DE
2019 Duo, Tamim Sibai & Kuisoon Park at Mutare Gallery in Berlin, DE
2019 Kleine Formate at Refugium Gallery in Usedom, DE
2018 Prince and Princess at Mutare Gallery in Berlin, DE
2018 Duo, Conversation at Institut Français in Khartoum, SD
2017 A Journey of Belonging with CAA at Bikini Berlin in Berlin, DE
2017 h2 at SEZ in Berlin, DE
2017 What the Weekend is Gallery 2 at Alte Münze in Berlin, DE
2017 EAF Collection at Bogen Koncept Store in Kassel, DE
2017 EAF | Enter Art Foundation | at Multipolster in Berlin, DE
2016 Common Ground at Universität der Künste in Berlin, DE
2016 Schau08 at Schauwerk in Berlin, DE
2015 Mariane at Institut Français in Khartoum, SD
2013 Vision at Nassar Gallery in Damascus, SY

Art Fairs

2024 Art Cairo in Cairo, EGY
2023 Positions Berlin Art Fair in Berlin, DE
2022 Positions Berlin Art Fair in Berlin, DE

Selected Workshops, Talks, Catalogs and Press

2023 Blickwinkel, press, Monopol Magazine in Berlin, DE
2023 Reality Show, press, Gulf Today Culture in Dubai, UAE
2022 Blickwechsel, press, Kunststation Kleinsassen in Fulda, DE
2022 Opening Ceremony, catalog, Grolman Gallery in Berlin, DE
2022 Duke University, talk Q/A, Artist’s Studio in Berlin, DE
2021 Aus der Tiefe, press, Tagesspeigel in Berlin, DE
2021 MEHR BERLIN, press, Tagesspeigel in Berlin, DE
2021 Tamim Sibai, catalog, Mutare Gallery in Berlin DE
2019 Tamim Sibai & Kuisoon Park, press, Zitty in Berlin, DE
2018 Kunst ist so friedvoll, press, Tagesspeigel in Berlin, DE
2018 Portraits, workshop, Institut Français in Khartoum, SD
2017 50 Contemporary Artists, catalog, EAF in Berlin, DE

Awards

2017 Graduation grant from the DAAD in Berlin, DE