Zena Assi

Country of Origin: Lebanon

Medium(s):

  • Painting

  • Mixed media

  • Installation

  • Sculpture

  • Animation

Key Themes in Her Work:

Zena Assi’s artistic practice is characterized by a fusion of urban narratives and socio-political commentary, exploring themes such as:

  • The complexities of identity and displacement

  • The interplay between individuals and their environments

  • The impact of socio-political unrest on urban landscapes

  • The layering of personal and collective memories

Assi’s compositions often feature densely packed cityscapes, symbolic figures, and textual elements, creating a tapestry that reflects the vibrancy and turmoil of contemporary urban life.

Notable Exhibitions or Collections Her Work Is Part Of:

Solo Exhibitions:

  • “Invitation to a Banquet”, Galerie Tanit, Munich, Germany (April–May 2024)

  • “Study of a Cloud”, Galerie Tanit, Beirut, Lebanon (June–August 2023)

  • “Ode to a Minefield”, Cromwell Place, London, UK (March 2022)

Group Exhibitions:

  • “Bittersweet Symphony”, Galerie Tanit, Beirut, Lebanon (January–February 2025)

  • “Intangible”, Galerie Tanit, Beirut, Lebanon (November 2024–January 2025)

  • “Secret Garden”, Galerie Tanit, Munich, Germany (November–December 2024)

Collections:

  • Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France

  • Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE

  • Académie Libanaise des Beaux Arts, Beirut, Lebanon

Awards:

  • Sunny Dupree Family Award for a Woman Artist, Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London, UK (2020)

  • Rosemary & Co Award, Society of Women Artists, London, UK (2018)

  • Special Jury Prize, XXIX Autumn Salon, Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon (2009)

Featured collection