Sabah Arbili

Sabah Arbilli, originally from Iraq, has carved a distinguished path in the world of art, culminating in a Master's in Visual Arts from the University of Wales. Now residing in the UK and Qatar, Arbilli dedicates himself to his art, primarily focusing on Arabic calligraphy through various mediums including paint and sculpture.

Arbilli's artistic journey is marked by continual evolution in both technique and style, earning him international acclaim through solo and group exhibitions. His mastery in traditional calligraphy has garnered numerous awards and led to his role as an expert advisor and consultant in the field. Beyond the canvas, Arbilli has contributed to the public art sphere with outdoor installations on architectural edifices and standalone stainless steel sculptures. His work holds the honor of being selected for permanent display at the Islamic Museum of Australia and by the United Nations.

Arbilli's creations stem from a compelling need to communicate, leveraging Arabic letters as a means for allegorical storytelling that probes moral concepts without prescribing them. His art invites viewers to delve beyond the surface, engaging with the text through its color, composition, and spatial arrangement, thereby transforming the act of viewing into a reflective exploration of underlying themes.

Transitioning from traditional to more abstract compositions, Arbilli's oeuvre reflects his personal narrative from Iraq to the UK, symbolizing his life's journey and the transient nature of human societies. His work, embodying themes of change, life, politics, and the human condition, invites a deeper contemplation of the struggles inherent in regions that are both blessed and cursed.

Arbilli's art, a blend of representation, reproduction, and the reinterpretation of Arabic calligraphy, has found a place in private collections, architectural landmarks, and public spaces both in the Middle East and internationally, establishing him as a pivotal figure in modernizing Arabic calligraphy for a global audience.

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