BEN ABOUNASSIF
Venezuelan, b. 1964
Ben Abounassif was born in Caracas in 1964 to Lebanese parents. He graduated from Tennessee Tech University in 1987 with a B.A. in Business Management. Abounassif’s first contact working in the art world was in 2006 when he launched Leiter Gallery in Miami, a short but successful experience as a co-owner working along with Cuban-born, Miami-based artist Sinuhe Vega Leiter, and Venezuelan-born internationalist & journalist, Jesus Rojas Torres. Abounassif’s innate creativity was highly influenced by working closely with local artists and by visiting their studios and launching exhibitions at Leiter’s, the only gallery in the U.S. that paid a living tribute to the late Cuban musician, Israel “Cachao” López. A year later in 2007, Abounassif exhibited his first art cube on Photo Miami ’07 with Hardcore Contemporary Art in Wynwood. In 2008, Miami art dealer Harvey Oxenberg exhibited Abounassif’s Piece of Love series at Bridge Art Fair ’08 during Art Basel Week in Wynwood. In 2011 with gallerist Aldo Castillo, Abounassif’s all-acrylic digital-cut series were exhibited in China at the American Pavilion, Shanghai Art Fair ’11. In 2013, Castillo –in a singular solo installation– exhibited Abounassif’s geometric series at the second edition of ArtSpot hosted at Spectrum Miami Art Fair ’13. In Venezuela, Abounassif’s geometric works on paper are high on demand. The artist’s first and second participation at FIA ’13 and ’14 with Galería Parenthesis were so successful with works being sold before the fair’s official opening. His work always receives high bets from collectors during charities and fundraisers for nonprofits. Abounassif ‘s work has been featured online through Eclectic Network’s websites since 2007 and has been recently featured in print magazines such as Hábitat Plus Florida and Ocean Drive Magazine Venezuela.
Ben AbounassifWorks & Biography
Ben Abounassif - Born in Caracas, Venezuela in 1964. Lives and Works between Caracas y Beirut.
Ben Abounassif, Shadows in Movement IV, Paper and Acrylic Paint, 20.5 x 20.5 In.
Ben Abounassif, Shadows in Movement III, Paper and Acrylic, 20.5 x 20.5 In.
Ben Abounassif, Shadows in Movement II, Paper and Acrylic Paint, 20.5 x 20.5 In.
Ben Abounassif, Shadows in Movement I, Paper and Acrylic Paint, 20.5 x 20.5 In.
Ben Abounassif, Geometric Movements, Paper and Acrylic Paint, 19 x 19 In.
Ben Abounassif, Fragment, Metal and Acrylic Paint, 24 x 24 In. SOLD
Ben Abounassif, Fragment II, Metal and Acrylic Paint, 24 x 24 In. SOLD
Education 1983-87 Business Administration, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN, USA B.A. Degree in Business Management 2007Piece of Love, Oxenberg Fine Art, Bridge Art Fair, Wynwood, USAPhoto Cube, Lurie Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USATara Solomon Photo Cube, The Forge, Miami Beach, USACollective exhibition, La Casa del Arte Collective, Fort Myers, Florida, USAInstallation Liberty for All, CCA3, Bakehouse Art Complex, Wynwood, USAArt After Dark & Experimental Innovators, Circa 28, Wynwood, USA 2008Photo Cube, White Orchid Gallery, Hollywood, California, USAArmory Art Center, Oxenberg Fine Art, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA 2009Cubos de Ávila, Galería G7, Caracas, VenezuelaInternational Artist Exhibition Collective, Nina Torres Fine Art, Miami, Florida, USA 2011Aldo Castillo Projects, American Pavilion, Shanghai Art Fair, China 201322nd Edition Feria Iberoamericana de Arte, FIA, Galería Parenthesis, Caracas,VenezuelaEntre Líneas, Galería Parenthesis, Caracas, VenezuelaMovimientos, Galería Viloria Blanco, Maracaibo, VenezuelaGeometry in Venezuela, 2nd Edition ArtSpot Art Fair, Aldo Castillo Projects, Spectrum Miami, Wynwood, USAColectiva Fin de Año, Galeria Viloria Blanco, Maracaibo, Venezuela 2014Movimientos , Galería Viloria Blanco, Wynwood, Florida, USAAldo Castillo Projects, Miromar Design Center, Estero, Florida, USA23rd Edition Feria Iberoamericana de Arte, FIA, Galería Parénthesis, CaracasColectiva de Verano, Galeria Viloria Blanco, Maracaibo, VenezuelaMovimientos, ProArt Gallery, Dubai, UAEHomage to Sofía, by Ben Abounassif, Venezuelan American Endowments for the Arts 2014 Annual Gala, David Rubenstein Atrium, Lincoln Center, New York City, USA (Upcoming November 2014) Latin American Art Exhibition, Aldo Castillo Projects, 3rd Edition ArtSpot/Spectrum Art Fair, San Diego, CA and Wynwood, FL, USA (Upcoming November-December 2014) Colectiva Fin de Año, Galeria Viloria Blanco, Maracaibo, Venezuela 2015Colectiva de Verano, Galeria Viloria Blanco, Maracaibo, VenezuelaBeirut Art Fair 2015, South Border Gallery, Beirut, LebanonPixeles, Galeria GBGARTS, Caracas, VenezuelaColectiva Fin de Año, Galeria Viloria Blanco, Maracaibo, Venezuela 2016Pixeles, Galeria GBGARTS, Caracas, VenezuelaArte Latinoamericano, Colectiva, Galeria Viloria Blanco, Maracaibo, VenezuelaEn Tres y Dos, Galeria Parenthesis, Caracas, VenezuelaSala 3, Quinta edicion, Colectiva, Galeria Viloria Blanco, Maracaibo, VenezuelaBeirut Art Fair 2016, South Border Gallery, Beirut, LebanonSeleccionado, Bienal 68 Salon Arturo Michelena 2017Exhibicion, Galeria Marita Segovia, Madrid, EspañaBeirut Art Fair, South Border Gallery, Beirut, LebanonExpoarte Montichiari, Galeria de arte Florida, Brescia, ItaliaSwab, Barcelona Art Fair, Galeria GBGArts, Barcelona, EspañaCarre Latin, LCP Art, Galeria GBGArts, Palais Royal, Paris, France 2018Beirut Art Fair, South Border Gallery, Beirut, LebanonCarre latin, LCP Art, Palais Royal, Paris, France 2019STOCK, GBGArts, Caracas, VenezuelaPINTA PARC, Peru Arte Contemporaneo, GBGArts, Lima, PeruPI’XELES, IN|CASA, Madrid, EspañaBeirut Art Fair, South Border Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon11ONCE, Centro de Bellas Artes Ateneo de Maracaibo, Viloria Blanco Gallery, Maracaibo 2020ART PALM BEACH, GBGArts, Palm Beach, Florida, USAMATERIALIZING IDEAS, Contemporaneo Asheville, North Carolina, USA 2021Colectiva, Galeria Plus Arte, Valencia, VenezuelaMODERNE ART FAIR, Mark Hachem gallery, Paris, FranceINTERLUDIO, GBGArts, Caracas, VenezuelaPIXELES, GBGArts, Caracas, VenezuelaColectiva “numero setenta/un año después” VBG, Maracaibo, Venezuela 2022ZONAMACO ARTE CONTEMPORANEO, Mark Hachem Gallery, Mexico City, MexicoTHE PALM BEACH SHOW, Mark Hachem Gallery,Palm Beach, USAART DUBAI, Mark Hachem Gallery, Dubai,EAUPINTA PARC,Peru Arte Contemporaneo, GBGArts, Lima, PeruMODERNE ART FAIR, Mark Hachem gallery, Paris, FranceINTERLUDIO, GBGArts, Caracas,VenezuelaArt Miami, Mark Hachem Gallery, Miami, FlVEINTIUNO, Viloria Blanco Galeria, Maracaibo, Venezuela 2023Palm Beach Modern+Contemporary, Mark Hachem Gallery, Palm Beach, FlZona Maco, Mark Hachem Gallery,Mexico City, MexicoSummer Show, Galeria Viloria Blanco, Maracaibo,VenezuelaGBG.INTERLUDIO, GBGArts, Caracas, VenezuelaArte y Diseño segunda edición, VBG, Maracaibo, Venezuela 2008 Where Have Our Superheroes Gone?, B1 Lifeshop, Miami, Florida, USA 2009 Ben @ Icon, South of Fifth, Miami Beach during Art Basel Miami Beach ’09, USA 2012 Repeticiones, Cámara de Comercio e Industria Venezolana-Alemana, Caracas, Venezuela 2013 Repeticiones, Galería Parenthesis, Caracas, Venezuela Geometry in Venezuela, Aldo Castillo Gallery, ArtSpot/Spectrum Art Fair, Wynwood, USA 2014 Venezuelan American Endowments for the Arts Gala, Homage to Sofía Imber by Ben Abounassif, David Rubenstein Atrium, Lincoln Center, New York City, USA 2015 Movimientos Geometricos, Viloria Blanco Galeria, Maracaibo, Venezuela En Circulo, Galeria Parenthesis, Caracas, Venezuela 2018 - 2019 Fragmentos, GBGArts, Caracas, Venezuela 2023 Shapes of The Mind, GBGArts, Caracas,Venezuela 2007Photo Miami, Hardcore Contemporary Art Space, Wynwood, USA 2008Oxenberg Fine Art, Bridge Art Fair, Wynwood, USAMiami Art Space, Repetitions, Collective Exhibition, Wynwood, USALa Casa del Arte, Collective, Fort Myers, Florida, USABakehouse Art Complex, Collective CCA 3, Liberty for All, Wynwood, USACirca 28, 1st edition of Art After Dark, Wynwood, USABen Abounassif & Romero Britto’s Homage to Tara Solomon’s Queen of The Night, The Forge, Miami Beach, USA 2009Ben @ ICON, Solo Show benefitting the Make a Wish Foundation of Southern FloridaPiece of Love, HIV/AIDS Foundation, Fort Lauderdale, Florida2011Fundación Fundana, Caracas, Venezuela2012Arte al Rescate, Fundación de Artistas Protectores de Animales, Corp Banca, Caracas,VenezuelaFundación Fundana, Caracas, VenezuelaFundación San Juan de Dios, Caracas, Venezuela2013El Arte es Emoción, Fundación Senosayuda, Caracas, VenezuelaFundación Autismo en Voz Alta, Caracas, VenezuelaFundación San Juan de Dios, Caracas, VenezuelaFundación Fundana, Caracas, Venezuela2014Fundacion Fundana, Caracas, VenezuelaFundacion San Juan de Dios, Caracas, Venezuela2015Fundacion Fundana, Caracas, VenezuelaFundacion San Juan de Dios, Caracas, Venezuela2016Fundacion fundana, Caracas, VenezuelaFundacion San Juan de Dios, Caracas, Venezuela2017Fundacion Fundana,Caracas, Venezuela2018Fundacion Fundana, Caracas, Venezuela2019Fundacion Fundana, Caracas, VenezuelaFundacion Autismo en Voz Alta, Caracas, Venezuela 2022Fundacion Fundana, Caracas, Venezuela 2023Fundacion Fundana, Caracas, VenezuelaAutismo en Voz Alta, Caracas, VenezuelaEntusiasma el Arte, Caracas, Venezuela
Artist statement
The work emerges from a sustained engagement with material and process — an attempt to locate the point at which intention dissolves into something less controlled, and more true.
Works
BEN ABOUNASSIF
Shadows in Movement IV
2013, Paper and Acrylic Paint, 20 1/2 × 20 1/2 in
$6,500
BEN ABOUNASSIF
Shadows in Movement III
2013, Paper and Acrylic, 20 1/2 × 20 1/2 in
$6,500
BEN ABOUNASSIF
Shadows in Movement II
2013, Paper and Acrylic Paint, 20 1/2 × 20 1/2 in
$6,500
BEN ABOUNASSIF
Shadows in Movement I
2013, Paper and Acrylic Paint, 20 1/2 × 20 1/2 in
$6,500