Hammzat Tahabsim is an emerging artist, whose background in multiple disciplines has informed his imaginative approach to painting and drawing.  At the heart of his practice is an ongoing exploration of the relationship between the material and immaterial, and how it influences our self-perception. The artist also emphasizes the sensory experiences of art and their impact on our understanding of the world.

Hammzat’s work examines personal and societal identity and gender through the unique lens of materials and color. His paintings are informed by the legacy of Fayum portraits and other historical sources, but also push into uncharted territories of transformation. With a masterful use of texture, form, and color, Hammzat’s work blurs traditional notions of masculinity and femininity, raising questions about the boundaries of identity itself. 

Central to Hammzat’s work is his investigation of textiles, which he uses as a substrate in his paintings. Working with natural fibers such as wool and silk, stretched over wooden frames, Textiles serve as the foundation of his paintings, where fibers mingle with pigments to yield new textures, tones, and optical illusions. This process of invention is not only informed by the artist’s background but also charts new ground in terms of technique and meaning. By using textiles common in haute couture, Hammzat critiques societal norms and highlights the importance of visual cues in shaping our perceptions and understanding of the world around us. His focus on the interplay between personal and societal identity and the role of the material world provides a thought-provoking reflection on the human condition.

His first solo exhibition was held at Artzotic’s Artist in Residency Space in August 2021, and he has also participated in group exhibitions in Amman, New York, and Chicago.
Hammzat is trained in architecture, design, and visual communication at the German Jordanian University. Currently, Hammzat is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Painting & Drawing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he received a Presidential Merit Award after completing his artistic residency at the Mohammed and Mahera Abu Ghazaleh Foundation in Amman,

Hammzat was born in 1997, in Amman, Jordan. He currently lives and works in Chicago, U.S.A.

2022 – Presidential Award, School of the Art Institute Chicago.

• 2022 –  In her Orbit, AARS (Artzotic Art Residency Space), Amman, Jordan
• 2022 – In Her Orbit, Mohammed and Mahera Abu Ghazaleh Foundation, Amman, Jordan