Khaled Al Khani

Lives in France 

At the age of seven, artist Khaled Alkhani lost his father in the Hama Massacre. Greatly influencing his work, he explains “My paintings are closely related to my memories of what happened in Hama, they come from my childhood, what I witnessed daily, memories of the Hama massacre. Such events leave a deep-cut memory in me that is hard to remove. I believe, in my artistic process, these memories are visible in my paintings. It has something to do with how I see women. The woman is the most essential and present figure, she is the hero of my paintings.” 

Born in Hama, Khaled Alkhani (1975) graduated with his Master’s degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Damascus University in 2000. Focused on the figure in his work, particularly the sole female figure, he obscures their facial features in darkness, or paints them delicately with their eyes closed. Conversely, their clothes are painted with a wide and passionate brushstroke, using lively colors, against a muted background. 

Alkhani has exhibited in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Canada, France and the US at institutions such as Museum of Bayt Lothan in Kuwait City; Cité internationale des arts in Paris; Kunsthalle zu Kiel in Kiel, and Bardo National Museum of Tunisia in Tunis.