ABDALLA AL OMARI
b. 1986, SyriaAbdalla Al Omari is a Syrian multidisciplinary artist whose work explores themes of displacement, conflict, the human condition, and, more recently, takes on more sensitive topics around identity. Born in Damascus and currently based in Belgium, Omari uses painting as a powerful medium to express his enduring ties to Syria and his evolving persona in a new environment shaped by exile’s realities. His intricately figurative and detailed works, which recently blur into composition studies, are marked by deep emotional resonance and capture life’s complexities through the expressive use of vibrant colour.
“Fraught with emotion, Omari’s oil on canvas compositions tackle complex psychological states, yet retain a profound beauty through their painterly application and realistic portrayal.”
With a nearly two-decade career, Omari’s practice reflects a personal journey that parallels his lived experience and eventual exile from Syria. In his internationally acclaimed Vulnerability Series, he initiated a space for dialogue around the dignity of those marginalised by war and political indifference. These works weave realism and symbolic abstraction, echoing his reflections, creating a dynamic visual narrative of identity, loss, and resilience.
Omari’s practice merges classical portraiture with expressive, emotionally charged compositions. His art challenges viewers to confront the psychological toll of conflict while affirming the enduring adaptability and change of the self in response to new environments. Each canvas becomes a site of memory, mourning, resistance, and hope, bridging the personal and political with unflinching honesty.
He holds a degree in English Literature from the University of Damascus. Though he worked alongside pioneering Syrian artists Ghassan Sibai and Fouad Dahdouh, Omari is widely considered a self-taught artist, having developed his practice independently outside of formal academic institutions. His work is held in collections including the Barjeel Art Foundation (UAE), Ayyam Gallery (UAE), FENIX Museum of Migration (Netherlands), Kamel Gallery (Syria), and the Syrian Ministry of Culture, among others.
Omari has exhibited internationally at institutions and galleries such as the Gangwon Biennale (South Korea), Pinchuk Art Centre (Kyiv), Ayyam Gallery (Dubai), Affenfaust Gallery (Hamburg), Institut du Monde Arabe (Paris), Kusseneers Gallery (Brussels), Strombeek Cultural Center (Belgium), NW Gallery (UK), Kozah Gallery (Lebanon), and the Berlin Biennale (Germany).
Courtesy Ayyam Gallery
Works at Ayyam Gallery
Explore and Follow Artists Shaping Contemporary Art
A respected voice in contemporary art discourse.
Focusing on ambitious storytelling and insightful art-world commentary. Ocula Magazine publishes in-depth interviews, critical essays and timely analysis on the artists, exhibitions and ideas driving the global art world.
Learn more about Ocula Magazine
Showcasing the best of the art world.
Ocula partners with galleries from around the world to highlight their artists, artworks and exhibitions. Gallery membership is by application and invitation, with each member vetted by an independent panel.
Learn more about Ocula Membership
Specialises in the sale of major artworks.
Led by a team with deep ties to the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and collectors. Ocula’s advisory team offers bespoke services to high-net-worth clients from around the world who are looking to acquire the best of contemporary and modern art.
Learn more about our team and services