Born in 1963 in Beirut, Lebanon, Jean-Marc Nahas is best known for his caricature figures and animalistic motifs that capture the psychological dimensions of war, civil conflict, and political turmoil. An example of this is his Catastrophe series (2006), which merges together sketched drawings of figures – some caught in the conflict, others screaming – and rabid animals, that are bound together to create a scene that attests to the confusion and chaos he is seeking to depict. His sketches are characterized by black and white frenetic lines that are washed over with sinister reds or bold blue backgrounds – a visual technique that translates well to his street artworks. Nahas moved to Paris at the age of 17 with no formal artistic training and was later admitted to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts where he studied for five years. He has participated in numerous exhibitions in Lebanon, Syria, Dubai, Canada, Brussels, and the United Kingdom, and his work is held in several collections including The British Museum, London, and Bank Audi.
