Born in 1973, Tunis, Tunisia
Works and lives in Le Kram, Tunisia
Omar Bey’s works include painting, collage and mixed media assemblage of found objects. He has developed an innovative command of materials that enable him to evoke surprise, humour, and contemplation in viewers.
Bey’s themes revolve around the paradoxical excess of human existence. Each work explores an absurdity which is echoed in its construction with materials that seem to contradict one another. His work is akin to “art brut” and is characterized by his juxtaposition of solid heavy objects, with light airy materials. Bey’s latest works reflect a more direct and personal engagement with the tensions of his own experiences in Tunisia, but that are also transmutable to broader contexts.
Omar Bey graduated from L’Institut Supérieur des Beaux-art in Tunis in 1998, and completed a residency at Cité Internationale des Arts during 2011-2012. His work has been exhibited at various international art fairs in Paris, London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
1998 Graduated from the Institut Supérieur des Beaux-artsof Tunis
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2017 1:54 Contemporary Art Fair, London, UK
2017 “Mort-vivant”, Elmarsa Gallery, Le Kram, Tunis, Tunisia
2016 “Yesterday is tomorrow’s memory: a group show of work from North Africa”, Elmarsa Gallery, Dubai
2016 “Effervescence’’ (Group Exhibition), Institute of Islamic Cultures, Paris, France
2016 Art Dubai 2016, Dubai
2015 Art Dubai 2015, Dubai
2014 Art Dubai 2014, Dubai
2014 Abu Dhabi Art 2014, Abu Dhabi
2013 “Sans Titre”, Group show, Elmarsa Gallery, Tunis
2013 Abu Dhabi Art 2013, Abu Dhabi
2013 “Enfermé dehors” (Solo Exhibition) Mille Feuilles Gallery, Tunis
2012 Solo Exhibition at the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris
2012 Galerie Sponte, Musée du Montparnasse, Paris
2011 “Cut log” (FIAC off’), Paris
2011 “Le poids du faire” (Solo Exhibition), Kanvas Art Gallery, Tunis
2008-11 Le Printemps des Arts de la Marsa, Tunis
2008-11 Galerie Air libre El Teatro, Tunis
2008-11 Kanvas Art Gallery, Tunis
2008-11 Galerie Ammar Farhat, Tunis
2008 “Perception de la ville” Barcelone
2007 “Temps de rouille” solo show, Mille Feuilles Gallery, Tunis
2002 “Au Frigo” (Solo Exhibition) Paris, France
2001 “Corpus” (Solo Exhibiton) Galerie du Palais Royal, Paris
RESIDENCY
2011-12 Cité Internationale des Arts
Bataille navale, 2017, Bricks, metal, 125x65x65 cm
Vestige #1, 2016, Enamelled brick, 30x20x15 cm
Ceux qui restent, 2016, Reinforced concrete slab, 205x100x20 cm
Kool ou balaa, 2016, Engraving and collage on paper, 102x72 cm each
Larguez les amarres, 2016, Wire mesh, synthetic rope, wood, 320x210x170 cm
Black birds, 2017, Box spring mattress, iron wire, 225 x 125 x 25 cm
Papa, maman et moi, 2017, Painting on paper, 25 x 33 cm each
Le roi est mort, 2016, Brick, cement and metal, 150x140x130 cm
Omar Bey, Untitled, 2017, Engraving on paper, 57x49 cm
Labyrinthe, 2017, "Jebbed" shisha pipes, canvas, ink, 195x144 cm
Sidi Amor Fayach, 2016, Shisha Pipes, Metal
Ghorbal, 2017, Metal and concrete, 440x265 cm
