MASRI HAYSSAM
Italian-Lebanese Artist, born in Tripolis, Lebanon and lived in Italy from 1990-2015.
Art to survive, art to become
At age nine, the shy Masri was delighted by his uncle’s unusual birthday gift, a set of colored paints. Soon, and for fifteen years to follow, the paints proved to be not only a medium for revealing the fine talents that others had guessed, but also Masri’s very lifeline, a means of externalizing and coping with the upheavals and carnage experienced during the protracted civil war in Lebanon. Forever committed to his destined role of artist, Masri undertook studies in design and architecture, all the while drawn to, and advised to emulate, the great works of Italian masters Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
In 1989, Masri arrived in Florence, the city of his dreams, where he immersed himself in the omnipresent beauty, contemplating and interacting with all its forms. To train his eye and his hand exhaustively, he studied at both the Academy and the State Institute of Fine Arts, learning historical and contemporary methods for painting, life drawing and sculpture. Through courses in engraving, he absorbed the particularities of Italian graphic arts, incorporating the linear expression of calligraphy and pattern from his Islamic heritage and craft. On a daily basis, the magnificent natural setting, the dynamic built structures, the exuberant, open and refined way of life, the art treasures… the whole of Florence nurtured Masri’s aesthetic spirit, impelling his creativity to expand in a full sphere.
Independent and focused on making rather than promoting his art, Masri attracted a stream of faithful admirers, professional and amateur alike, and gained awards, invitations to group and solo exhibitions in galleries and museums both in Italy and elsewhere, as well as honor in his homeland, where he has been recognized with thematic exhibitions, television interviews and a documentary film. Artistically, he is so highly conversant in a spectrum of styles and techniques, and handles with such facility every subject from the decorative to the metaphysical, that viewers and critics, at once dazzled and perplexed, have seen him as a kindred spirit to Delacroix, Picasso, Emilio Vedova and Gerhard Richter. Yet, after a quarter century of productivity and progress, Masri sensed the onset of a new phase in his life and work; aware of having passed a full half of his lifetime in Florence, he felt an urgent need to redirect his energies, engage in new, challenging artistic activity.
Solo Exhibitions
2020: Compulsion- Mary Tomas Gallery, Dallas
2016: Mary Tomas Gallery-Dallas, TX-Usa
2015: Artifact gallery-New York, Usa
2014: University of Balamand – (Faces and Stories), Lebanon
2013: Beirut Arab University- (Screaming)- Beirut Lebanon
2009: Nes Kulturhus Norway-(Anatomy of Nature Series) Norway
2005: American Art Gallery–Carmel, California
2003: La chimera (Metropolitan International Art) Lecce, Italy
2002: Galleria Modigliani, Milan–Italy
1999: Teatro Guglielmi, Massa Carrara -Italy
1998: Stamperia della Bezuga,Florence – Italy
1997: Gegenuber Badischer Bahnhof, Basel, Switzerland
1994: Centro Internazionale “Giorgio la pira”- Florence- Italy
Group Exhibitions
2020:International Biennal of the Norman-Monreal , Sciortino Museum and Villa Vittorio Veneto -Palermo-Italy.
2020: ALL TOGETHER NOW – Mary Tomas Gallery.
2020: Compulsion- Mary Tomas Gallery, Dallas
2020:Across the river- South Korea
2019:Art Nigde International, Turkey
2019: Freedom and Peace, International Art Festival Haegeumgang Theme Museum-South Korea)
2019-Love for kids – 9 th Annual Palette to Palate- Dallas,TX
2019: B.I.G. Bold. Impressive, Grand-Group exhibition at Mary Tomas Gallery-Dallas TX.
2019: Neutral-ism international group movement Exhibition-Nereto, Italy
2019: Art Booth at KAABOO TEXAS, A weekend of contemporary art, Presented by Mary Tomas Gallery.
2018 : Focus-Mary Tomas Gallery, Dallas -Texas
2018:The Breckenridge Fine Arts Center- Portrait society of America, Texas.
2018: International Art Festival -Love and Inspiration, Haegeumgang Theme Museum- South Korea.
2018: UNICEF ARTE -Il sorriso di Roberta- Progetto Unicef, Milazzo Italy
2018: Summer Group Exhibition at Mary Tomas Gallery, Dallas-TX
2018: DeGolyer house, Dallas Arboretum, Dallas-Texas
2018: Self portraits Exhibition at KunstSalon Kasteel Daelenbroeck- Netherlands.
2017: National Museum of Boxing. Santa Maria degli Angeli, Assisi- Italy.
2017: Perspectives – Art Project , Ruins of Milreu , Portugal
2017: Neutralism Group Exhibition- Landgoed De Campagne ,Belgium.
2016: Haegeumgang Theme Museum -Yu Kung Art Museum, South Korea.
2016:Visual Art Forum VII, UNESCO Palace ,Beirut-Lebanon
2016: Italian Boxing Federation 100 years of Italian boxing-Florence and Roma, Italy.
2016:Pausa Ritmo Azione -ONART Gallery ,Florence Italy.
2017:Poligious Issues, 10dence Gallery-Belgium and Netherlands Museum Het Ursulinenconvent
2017:Summer Group Exhibition at Mary Tomas Gallery, Dallas-TX
2015: Evoluzione del ritratto –ONART Gallery, Florence, Italy.
2015:Visual Art Forum VI, Unesco Palace ,Beirut-Lebanon
2015: Neutralism Exhibition-Aurum Museum-Pescara Italy
2015: Artifact gallery-New York
2015: COLOR- Mary Tomas Gallery, Dallas-Texas.
2015:Artisti in diffesa delle librerie,Luogi di cultura ed incontro-progetto a cura di Roberto Savi- La Fahrenheit 451 di Campo de’ fiori- Roma e La mostra prosegue in maggiore libreria italiane Florence,Bologna,Napoli,Milano,Torino,Venice.
2014: “Mein Fukushima” Gogyoshi Art Project” Die Farberei Gallery-Munich. Germany.
2014: 100 Anni di pugilato italiano – Palagio dei Parte Guelfa, Florence Italy.
2014: Art Expo-New York “We are responsible 4 the weather” Basak Malone-New York,USA
2014: Visual Art Forum V- Unesco Palace ,Beirut-Lebanon
2013: Which Gate? Berlin Project 2013,Germany
2013: Visual Art Forum IV-LAAPS- Unesco Palace ,Beirut-Lebanon
2013: Showcase winners Art Slant-USA
2013: Festival mondial “Das Artes Pela Paz- Brasil
2013:”Story of the creative” final exhibition, New York
2012: Visual Art Forum III-LAAPS- Unesco Palace ,Beirut-Lebanon
2012: Royal Society of Portrait-Annual Exhibition- Mall Galleries, London
2012: UNICEF Project “Ricostruire l’infanzia”
2012: I colori dal mondo a Roccella Jonica-Italy
2011: UNICEF Project for – Darfur una strange deminticata
2011: Cosmografie- Domus talenti- Roma
2011: Microcosmi – Galleria Metamorfosi Arte Gallery – Reggio emilia-Italy
2011: Nittedals Utstillingen, Nittedal – Norway
2011: Soqquadro –Palazzo Orsini a Bomarzo (ogni pensiero vola) Roma
2010: Museum Soursok Beirut
2010: Galleria Ariele –Torino (percezione e lettura visive):
2009: American Art –Carmel, California
2005: American Art –Carmel, California
2004: American Art –Carmel, California
2003: Modena Art,(30×30), Italy, Japan and New York
2002: Immagina, Mostra Mercato di Arte Contemporanea, Reggio Emilia
2001: Romeriks Utstillingen, Lorenskog and Jessheim, Norway
2001: Nittedals Utstillingen, Nittedal – Norway
2000: Art Point- Black, Florence – Italy
1989: Gallery Spazio Quartiere Uno, Florence- Italy.
Member of
NEUTRAL-ISM -International Art Movement -Italy.
Portrait society of America
Lebanese Artists Association – painters and sculptors LAAPS -Lebanon
International Culture & Arts Federation -ICAF- South Korea
Prizes, Awards and Nominations
2019: Award International prize- Artist of the year- Mantua Social Theatre,Italy
2019: Award International prize -Diego Velazquez- (Meam Museum – Barcelona Spain)
2017:His work was selected for National Museum of Boxing. Santa Maria degli Angeli, Assisi , Italy.
2016:His self portrait was selected for the Haegeumgang Theme Museum,South Korea
2014: Chosen to be international selectors for the finalist artists for the “International biennial “Tattoo In Contemporary Art”
2013: Spotlight in Italy Selected by Saatchi
2013: Showcase winners Art Slant- Miami,USA
2012: First Merit- Portrait society of America – self Portrait member-
2012: Finalist for his self portrait at -Royal Society of Portrait- Mall Gallery-London
2012: Art Contest International Award and Honourable Mention for his painting “Clouds Falling
2011- Selected in Art Kudos international Art competition
2010: Selected in Art Kudos international Art competition
2010: Selected in NDU Lebanese Diaspora International competition Notre Dame University-Beirut
2009: Selected in Art Kudos International Art competitions from series (Anatomy of Nature)
2008: Selected in Art Kudos International Art competitions from series (Anatomy of Nature)
2007: 2°Premio International Arte Laguna Museo Santa Caterina) Treviso Italy.
2003: 1° Premio international (Art e Società) Caltaniseta Sicilia
2003: Premio Italia 2003- Florence-Certosa
Publications, Interviews and Documentaries
2019: Artist Portfolio Magazine Issue 39- USA
2019: Art International Contemporary Magazine,Italy
2019: Art Now-International prize Velazquez.
2018: PATRON Magazine Dallas,USA
2018: Pagliai Film Group-(ecoFrames Film) Documentary:“The Portrait Of Masri”
(work in process)
2018: Unicef Art, Milazzo, Italy
2017: Neutralism Art Movement -General Catalog,Italy
2016: Cento Anni di Pugilato Italiano,Italy
2016: PATRON Magazine, Dallas-USA
2016: Unicef Art, Milazzo-Italy
2015: ARTIFACT,New York,USA
2014: Protagonisti Dell’Arte, Italy
2014: Artist Portfolio Magazine Issue #19 -USA
2013 : LBC TV,Beirut,Lebanon
2013:Al Sharq-Lebanese news paper,Beirut
2013: Al tamaddon,Lebanese news paper
2013:Future TV-Beirut,Lebanon
2012- Artist Portfolio Magazine Issue #7-USA
2011: Ogni Pensiero Vola- By Colori Arte Contemporanea, Soggvadro-Agenzia Vista-Italy
2010: Future TV Documentary Of “Masri the artist”- Lebanon.
2010: TV Liban: Good Morning Beirut
2010: Tripoli Post, Lebanon
2009: Akershus arbeiderblad News paper -Norway
2009: Raumnes News paper – Norway
2005: ARTWORKS Magazine- California -USA
2005: Virgilio Art Guide Book – Italy
2004: CHOC Magazine -Lebanon
2004: ART news -USA
2004: Euro ARTE – Italy
2004: Cedar Wings -Lebanon
2003: ARTE Mondadori -Italy
2002: Toscana TV-Florence -Italy