Rooted in classical traditions passed down by his father, a self-taught calligrapher, Naanseh’s evolving practice bridges the literary, linguistic, and visual, exploring the complex relationships between experience, identity, and ideas of home. Drawing from ancient and modern Arabic poetry, phonetic analysis, and lived experience, he explores how the written word can embody collective experience and personal reflection. His innovative calligraphic style demonstrates the connection between text and image, as color, composition, and meaning are an important part of his process. His current series focuses on the Arabic word ترحال which loosely translate to English as “Nomadic”—a rich concept that directly relates to his personal experience leaving his homeland of Syria.

Biography

Naanseh’s work has been exhibited internationally, including solo exhibitions in Syria and Germany and recent shows at George Mason University, where he served as a 2022 Artist-in-Residence and taught Drawing and Arabic Calligraphy. As a current Artist Protection Fund Fellow, Naanseh is part of a global network supporting artists at risk, using his practice to preserve cultural heritage and amplify voices from regions in turmoil. His artwork is held in private and institutional collections, including the Oriental Museum at Durham University in the United Kingdom and Otto-Schäfer-Museum in Schweinfurt, Germany.