New York, New York

In this work for sale by Jamil Molaeb, the city that gives its name to the title of the piece is instantly recognisable, even though the artist has depicted its iconic landmarks in his own inimitable style. The Statue of Liberty looks down on the scene, although she has been repositioned from her usual spot in the water to oversee a typically vibrant, underground nightlife scene. Further along, another world-famous structure, Brooklyn Bridge, is given similar treatment, positioned so that it sits above a music club, where the artist’s signature silhouette figures are immersed in their activities. The scene is compartmentalised and yet part of a whole, relaying the rich diversity for which New York is world famous.

Born in 1948 in Baissour, Chouf, Molaeb studied Fine Arts at the Lebanese University in Beirut, under the tuition of Paul Guiragossian and Chafic Abboud. He furthered his studies at the Pratt Institute in New York City and Ohio State University, returning to Lebanon to teach at several educational institutions. A painter and sculptor who also makes mosaics, Molaeb often brings motifs that reveal his other ways of working onto hiscanvases, such as motifs and fragmented elements. His work has been extensively exhibited worldwide and is held in prestigious public and private collections, including The World Bank in Washington, DC. Molaeb also established his own museum in Baissour.