Masri Hayssam

"Florence in the winter" oil on canvas by Masri

2019

Masri Hayssam is an Italian Lebanese artist who was born in Tripoli-Lebanon. He moved to Italy in 1990 after experiencing the bloody civil war that lasted fifteen years. He studied architectural design in Lebanon and later studied privately calligraphy. In 1993, he completed his studies at the Art Institute of Florence, specializing in Professional Art, Advertising, and Photography. He also took a course in Drawing, Incision, and History of Art at the Academy of Art Florence. Since finishing his studies, he has worked as a full-time artist in his studio in Florence. Masri Hayssam's works can be divided into different periods and different series of works. His insatiable and agonizing feeling of unexpressed great potential inside of him is not fulfilled by the versatility in his work. He often feels that it needs to explode and express itself in different domains. He is always on the move discovering something artistically new and impressive; something significant with an eye-opening impact on the human psyche; something that does not let monotony and rote repetition take hold of his soul and the flow of his thoughts. Hayssam's solo exhibitions include Mary Tomas Gallery-Dallas, Texas (2016), Artifact gallery-New York (2015), University of Balamand – Faces and Stories-Lebanon (2014), Beirut Arab University- Beirut-Lebanon (2013), Which Gate? Berlin Project 2013 (2013), Galleria Espace D’art-Tripoli-Lebanon (2010), Nes Kulturhus Norway-(Anatomy of Nature Series) (2009), American Art Galleries–Carmel, California (2005), American Art –Carmel Galleries, California (2004), and La chimera ( Metropolitan International Art)- Lecce, Italy (2003). His group exhibitions include Haegeumgang Theme Museum-Yu Kung Art Museum, South Korea (2016), Evoluzione del ritratto-ONART Gallery, Florence, Italy (2015), Neutralism Exhibition-Aurum Museum-Pescara Italy (2015), Artifact gallery-New York (2015), COLOR-Mary Tomas Gallery, Dallas-Texas (2015), and “Mein Fukushima” Gogyoshi Art Project” Die Farberei Gallery-Munich, Germany (2014). Other exhibitions include Art Expo-New York “We are responsible 4 the weather (2014), Visual Art Forum III-LAAPS- Lebanese Artist Ass. Unesco-Beirut (2012), Royal Society of Portrait-Annual Exhibition- Mall Galleries, London (2012), Unicef project “Ricostruire l’infanzia” for Gaza (2012), and I colori dal mondo a Roccella Jonica-Italy (2012). Masri Hayssam has received several awards and nominations, including the First Merit Portrait Society of America for his self-portrait member (2012), Finalist for his self-portrait at Royal Society of Portrait-Mall Gallery-London (2012), Art Contest International Award and Honorable Mention for his painting “Clouds Falling” (2012), Selected in Art Kudos International Art competition (2010), NDU Lebanese Diaspora International competition Notre Dame University-Beirut (2010), and 2°Premio International Arte Laguna Museo Santa Caterina) Treviso Italy (2007). Hayssam's art reflects his multicultural background, blending Middle Eastern and European influences with abstract and figurative elements. His work often explores the relationship between the natural and the artificial, the tangible and the intangible, and the visible and the invisible. Masri Hayssam's artistic journey is a testament to his commitment to self-expression and exploration. He is a master of paintings of the raw human condition.