Journey to Now – A Twenty Year Retrospective
Khalilah Sabree
February 2 – March 27 ( extended )
open to the public 11am-4pm, Thursday – Saturday / Masks are mandatory
email the gallery director to make an appointment Monday – Wednesday, 11am-4pm
gallery@artworkstrenton.org
This retrospective of artist, Khalilah Sabree, spans over two decades of work. Her work is about spiritual transformation and world issues. Her current body of work contains a variety of large scale, mixed-media paintings and drawings. There are several series in the collection, with a contemporary Islamic flavor.
Khalilah filters the world through the eyes of an African-American Muslim woman and educator. She maintains a private studio at Artworks Trenton, and has a Master of Fine Art in Painting, from The University of The Arts, and received her B.A, from The College of New Jersey. Her work has been exhibited extensively throughout the Tri-State area.
[et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][/et_pb_divider]
[et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][/et_pb_divider]Above and Below
In this Series I seek to illustrate the relationship between the temporary life we live on earth, and our transition through the physical earth.
DESTRUCTION OF A CULTURE
Her most recent work is focusing on influences that affect the Muslim world and how the world sees Islam. There are nine mixed-media pieces in the collection thus far, that have been created from one image. She uses a variety of media i.e. photography, drawing printmaking and painting. These paintings address loss, destruction of community life, as well as the affect war has on women and children. Each piece has reference to Ayat in the Holy Quran. Khalilah uses the window size format, to allow the viewer to look into a world we rather not see.
EBOLA OVER AFRICA SERIES
The Ebola Series is inspired by the recent Ebola epidemic and it global reminder that no one is safe from global threat. She has infused the virus into African motif and symbols of myth and nature, to conceal the virus.
POST 911 SERIES
All Americans were severely affected by the tragic events of 911. Our nation questioned its source and debated its proper response. As an American born Muslim and Artist, my creative response to these tragic events, resulted in an achromatic pallet. A numbness in sprit and creativity prevailed. As the media bombarded our senses with images real and imagined, this series became visible. The 911 Series: reflects a difficult and dark process for me, as I struggled to make sense of the unimaginable.
Hajj Series
The Hajj Series is a group of nine mixed-media paintings (painting, photography, print-making, and drawing), reflecting inspiration received on Hajj in 2004. These paintings were painted simultaneously, over a year.
Veil Series
These paintings reference Al-Ghazali’s interpretation of the verse of Light in the Holy Quran (XXIV.3) and the sayings of the holy Prophet Muhammad (pbh). My goal is to illustrate the notion of levels of personal enlightenment.
