Born in Homs in 1977, Mouteea Murad studied Fine Arts at the University of Damascus. His works are inspired by traditional Islamic art in which spirituality and formalism are unified in geometric form. His intricate geometric paintings borrow from the illusionistic perspective of Op art and the grid-like, rectangular forms of Suprematism, yet his bold use of color imbues his paintings with a more playful and contemporary aesthetic. His works invite a reflection on spatiality and order, embodying a mathematical precision that is visually satisfying. The compositional order works for which Murad is better known are in stark contrast to his earlier minimalist, monochrome gestural paintings, which dealt with the existential anguish of modernity. A monograph of the artist’s work was launched alongside the artist’s exhibition Thresholds, at Ayyam Gallery Dubai in November 2016. His work can be found in private and public collections internationally, including the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts. Murad lives and works in Sharjah, UAE.
