Issam Al Shater
Painter
Painter
Syrian artist Issam Al Shater is a graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Painting Department, Damascus University (1989). He has built a professional practice over more than three decades, creating original works across multiple media with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship, consistency, and exhibition-ready production.
Artistic Practice
Working independently as a freelance painter, he is known for abstract compositions that translate feeling, memory, and everyday human experience into visual language. His practice combines disciplined studio process with a strong ability to deliver high-quality work under pressure and across varied exhibition contexts.
Teaching Experience
Teacher of Painting & Drawing, Fine Arts Center, Swaida (2006–2010)
Lecturer, Painting & Drawing Dept, Faculty of Fine Arts, Damascus University (2010–2015, 2021–2022)
Selected Solo Exhibitions
Arabic Culture Center, Swaida, 1987
Ishtar Gallery, Damascus, 1992
Al-Saied Gallery, Damascus, 1993
Silibra Hotel, Adana, Turkey, 1995
Benoit Lilar Dernegi Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey, 1995
Damascus Art Gallery, Damascus, 1995
Arabic Culture Center, Swaida, 2014
Ananda Art Space, Beirut, Lebanon, 2018
Ishtar Gallery, Damascus, Syria, 2019
Selected Group & Cooperative Exhibitions
Early dual and cooperative exhibitions in Damascus and Swaida (1989–1990)
University Student Town and Russian/Arabic Culture Center exhibitions, Damascus (1989–1990)
Mini Painting and cooperative gallery programs in Damascus, Aleppo, and Swaida (1995–2006)
Al-Kawaf Gallery participations, Aleppo (1997–1998)
Shababiek and Shamieyat exhibitions, Free Hand Gallery, Damascus (2007–2008)
Artists from Swaida exhibitions, Al-Shaab Hall and Arabic Culture Center (2008–2010)
First Realist Art Gallery (New Realism in Syrian Art), Dommar, Damascus (2010)
Autumn Leaves and Faculty of Fine Arts teachers exhibitions (2011–2014)
International Participations
International Mahaba Biennale, Lattakia, Syria, 1998
Syrian Cultural Week exhibitions, Ukraine and Algeria, 2007
Recycling competition, Dutch and British Cultural Center with Faculty of Fine Arts, Damascus, 2007
Syrian Ministry of Culture workshops on decoration and miniature arts, Algeria, 2007
First International Photography Forum, Lattakia, Syria, 2008
Artist's Exhibition from Syria / Saka, Bologna, Italy, 2009
Syrian Art Exhibition, Fajr International Festival, Tehran, Iran, 2011
The Opening of ART LAB Gallery, Beirut, 2012
Aley Fine Art Festival, Lebanon, 2015, 2016 & 2017
Joint exhibitions in Lebanon, 2016–2018
"Syria Our Home" exhibitions, Holland, Germany, Belgium, 2015 & 2016
Exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts, Düsseldorf, Germany, 2016
Hunting and Equestrian Festival, Abu Dhabi, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2021
Women's Day joint exhibition, Ramada Adana, Turkey, 2019
Rose Color Fair, Bursa, Turkey, 2020
Journey to Hope Exhibition, Altinbash International University, Istanbul, Turkey, 2020
Awards & Recognition
Finalist in the London International Forum competition for Best Arab Artwork in the World (2016). His painting "Sunflower and Syrian Vocabulary" (80 × 80 cm, 2016) reached the final stage.
Collections & Institutional Holdings
Syria: Syrian Parliament, Ministry of Culture, National Museum (Modern Art Museum), Sheraton Damascus Hotel, and Political Administration in Damascus
Malaysia: Syrian Embassy
Turkey: Silibra Hotel Adana and Ramada Hotel Adana
Kuwait: Amiri Airport, Diwan Al-Hajraf
Saudi Arabia: Hyundai Company, Dammam
Works held by public and private collections across Australia, Egypt, France, Germany, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE, USA, and the UK