"As a Greek-Bangladeshi artist profoundly influenced by the audacious concepts of 'high art' I encountered during my formative years living in 1990s New York, I developed an artistic approach that explores the conceptual boundaries of painting—metaphorically linking these distinctive techniques to bridging cultural divides and inspiring renewed cross-cultural understanding."
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BIOGRAPHY
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Born in Bangladesh and later adopting Greek nationality, Omar Zafar brings a rich multicultural perspective and a wealth of diverse professional experiences to his art. Educated in India and the USA, with formative years in New York and Athens, Zafar’s work fuses cultural insights with a unique depth, merging historical perspective with a contemporary vision that reimagines artistic norms. His pioneering 'hyper-eclectic' approach in painting offers a compelling blend of socio-economic and political reflections.
Driven by scientific, heuristic inquiry, Zafar challenges the constraints of contemporary painting, pushing beyond prevalent 20th-century paradigms. His process, both exploratory and meticulous, deconstructs and reconceives painting’s elements, unveiling novel conceptual dimensions that transcend cultural and geographic boundaries. Through radical methodologies, he connects disparate influences into a unified, striking visual language
After earning his BFA from Clark University in 1996, Zafar moved to New York, where he exhibited in alternative spaces and received a grant from Artist Space. In 2000, he relocated to Athens, where he participated in curated group exhibitions and presented his solo show, Painting…, at Statement gallery in 2003. Following a two-decade hiatus for family commitments, Zafar re-entered the art world with renewed vigor, culminating in his solo exhibition, Painting Beyond Painting, at Alibi Gallery, Athens, in June 2024, alongside his selection for the prestigious Art Laguna _Artist Prize, 19th Edition, in Venice, Italy.
Originally grounded in figurative art, Zafar’s breakthrough came in New York with his interactive magnetic paintings, marking a pivotal shift toward abstraction. This evolution laid the foundation for his "Colorless Paintings" and catalyzed an exploration of paint’s physicality beyond traditional surfaces, leading to the creation of his “Surfaceless Paintings.”
Influenced by the boundary-pushing spirit of the Modernists, Zafar’s abstractions offer more than homage, presenting insightful allegories on current, often contradictory realities. His work transcends aesthetics, embedding itself in the discourse of contemporary art while navigating the complexities of his cultural identity and the zeitgeist of his era. His art resonates with a global spirit, sparking reflection and innovation in all who encounter it.
CV
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OMAR KAZI ZAFAR
Born Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1973
Education BFA, Clark University. Massachusetts, USA, 1996
Resides Lives and works in Athens, Greece
Solo Exhibitions
2024 “Painting Beyond Painting,” Forging Untraversed Paradigms. Alibi Gallery, Athens, Greece.
2003 “Painting…,” Statement Gallery, Athens, Greece.
2000 “Mine, yours, his/hers, theirs and everybody else’s paintings” Bengal Foundation. Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 19th Edition of Art Laguna Artist Prize, Finalist Exhibition, Venice, Italy
2003 March Exhibition of Young Artists. Athens Town Gallery, Greece.
2002 October Group Show, “Art After Clark,” University Gallery & Schiltkamp Gallery. Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA.
2002 June Group Show, “Review Preview.” Epidavros, Greece.
2000 October Three Person Group Show, “Extensions of Man” Cheap Art. Athens, Greece.
2000 June Group Show, Epikentro Contemporary Arts Center. Athens, Greece.
2000 May “Mi Art ” Milan Art Fair 2000. Milan, Italy. Participated
with Epikentro Gallery. Athens, Greece.
2000 Oct Group project at Cosmos, and at the Deste Foundation Art Store. Athens, Greece.
1999 Mar Exhibition of Drawings at “Indigo Gallery,” NY, NY.
1998 Dec Exhibition, of Paintings and Drawings at “LIFE.” NY, NY.
1998 April Exhibition of Art works at Madison Square Garden, NY, NY. USA
1997 April Exhibition, of art works that were created by utilizing computer and non-computer applications, at KEK. (European Center for Vocational Training).
Publications
- OMAR ZAFAR: Painting Beyond Painting, Exhibition catalogue, Alibi Gallery, Athens, May 2024
- Mine, Yours, His/Her’s, Theirs and Everybody Else’s Paintings Exhibition catalogue, Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2000
Art Teaching
1999-2001 Teacher, Campus Arts and Sciences University, Athens,
Greece. (Part time) Art and Art History
1998- 1999 Art Teacher, Razi School, Woodside, NY Taught art and crafts to children from Kindergarten up to 10th grade.
1998 -1999 Art Teacher, Cathedral School, NY, NY. Taught art and crafts to children from Kindergarten to 7th grade.
1997 Teacher, Campus Arts and Sciences University, Athens, Greece. Taught Art and Art History to students in the university.
Awards & Recognition
2024 Luxembourg Art Prize, Certificate Of Artistic Merit
1998 Artist Space Independent Project Grant Award,” NY, USA.
1996 Clark University. Art Award, Mass., USA.
Omar Kazi Zafar Bio, (version: May 2024)