About Tony Khawam

Event: Living the Dream Painting Series

Dates: 14 Jul 2023 - 11 Sep 2023

The inspiration for this series was my interest in history, human emotion, allusions to place, memory, and the ubiquitous fleeting moments of the conscious and unconscious. This continuous series of paintings have been supported by grants from the Florida Division of Arts & Culture, Miami-Dade and Broward Counties Cultural Divisions, Florida.

The work is steeped in iconic undertones, drawing from my deep fascination with historical imagery and the influences of post-war American art. My canvases are democratic spaces devoid of illusion or perspective, where anything can be depicted. The work is a vivid journey through my artistic life and the world around me as an immigrant and an American.

Event: Prosperity Painting Series

Dates: 16 Jun 2022 - 11 Aug 2022

Vividly reflecting my fascination with South Florida’s vibrant lifestyle, the prosperity painting series stands as a grand testimony. This region offers spectacular flora and fauna, miles of golden and white sandy beaches, and a dynamic, grid-like aerial scene. It features a fabulous blue ocean with waves and a canal system reminiscent of Venice. The perpendicular urban view gives me the freedom to work on a painting from all four sides. No matter how the painting is turned, it reveals almost the same visual result. The focus is on waterfront luxury homes, swimming pools, boats, and cars, which form a network of geometric abstract shapes. The composition centers around flat shapes and a joyful color palette to reflect the spirit of Florida’s landscape.

Event: American Dream

Dates: 30 Nov 2021 - 5 Dec 2021

The past and present of the "American Dream" painting series demonstrate how art—through color, line, and shape—enriches the viewer’s experience. The work delicately balances representation and abstraction, mirroring real and unreal aspects of lived experience as painted by the artist. Furthermore, the use of varied media—acrylic, colored pastel, and spray paint—references painterly collage in an experimental and risk-taking manner. The works feature both social commentary, fashion motifs, everyday objects, pop culture ads, cartoons, film, and Florida flora and fauna inhabit the flat, kaleidoscopic surfaces. The artist’s dialogue with past traditions is interwoven with his active participation in current global artistic discussions. This simultaneous engagement with past, present, and future highlights a singular creative voice.

Event: CHAOS Painting serious

Dates: 1 Sep 2020 - 20 Oct 2020

The Syrian and Ukrainian conflicts inspired me to create a series of paintings that explore human emotions in urban areas disrupted by war. These conflicts have transformed the urban landscape, placing it on the frontlines. In this series, I focus on neighborhoods in ruins in Aleppo, Syria, and Kyiv, Ukraine. These cities were selected as representative examples of their respective countries, highlighting urban scenes with collapsed apartment buildings. The paintings depict haunting and disturbing imagery, intentionally using a palette of vibrant colors and swirling, gestural brushstrokes that seem to emerge from the canvas with a vigorous life force.