CARNAGE
acrylic and mixed media on canvas
120 x 120cm; 47 1/4 x 47 1/4in
unframed

To be sold with a Certificate of Authenticity

Provenance
Acquired from the studio of the artist

Jean-Marc Nahas is a Lebanese-Canadian artist known for his expressive, emotionally charged visual language and deep engagement with themes of war, memory, and the human condition. Born in 1963 in Beirut, he came of age during the Lebanese Civil War-an experience that continues to shape his artistic voice. At the age of 17, he moved to Paris, where he studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts (ENSBA) and Penninghen. His training was further enriched under the mentorship of artists such as Pierre Alechinsky, Vladimir Veličković, Ferit Iscan, and Albert Zavaro.

Nahas’s work combines rapid, rhythmic brushwork with simplified, calligraphic lines to create dynamic compositions populated by expressive figures and animal-like motifs. His paintings often read as visual narratives-personal letters or poems in image form-which he refers to as “a private diary.” The emotional intensity of his work is heightened by his focus on themes such as war, peace, and social inequality, particularly the experiences of children.

His exploration of the female nude reflects a careful study of movement and form, rendered with both elegance and psychological tension. Throughout his career, Nahas has emphasised clarity of expression over ornament, stating, “The simplification of my drawing is essential to be able to understand it-likewise for my paintings.”

Nahas’s work has been widely exhibited and is included in major collections around the world, including the British Museum, the Sursock Museum, Bank Audi Foundation, CAP Foundation Kuwait, and the Macklowe Collection in New York. His most recent major retrospective was held at the Beirut Exhibition Center in 2013. He divides his time between North America, Europe, and the Middle East.