Athar Jaber (b. 1982) currently lives and works in Abu Dhabi. Growing up between Rome, Florence, The Netherlands and Belgium helped Jaber to develop and reinforce a sense of belonging that stretches beyond geographical borders. This notion acts as the framework for his artistic practice which is characterised by a desire to outline a thread of common human experience across cultures and time. Having been brought up with images of the Gulf War, themes such as suffering and violence became inevitable; meanwhile, growing up in Florence enabled an understanding of classical sculpture and its quest for ideal beauty. Hence, Jaber seeks to explore the contrasting conditions of violence and beauty that have played a significant role in his development as an artist.
Solo exhibitions include Vestiges, Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, UAE (2025); Amare, Damme, Belgium (2023); Sculptura #1, Gare Maritiem, Brussels, Belgium (2023); Sculpture Triennale, Gallery Campo & Campo, Antwerp, Belgium (2022); Overlap, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp, Belgium (2021); Offerings, National Museum of Fine Arts, La Habana, Cuba, (2018); Works, Galerie Loehrl, Monchengladbach, Germany (2017); Where Pain Becomes Beauty, Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, Florence, (2015).
Group exhibitions include Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, Abu Dhani, UAE (2024); CARME, Brescia, Italy (2022); Triennale Bruges, Belgium (2021); Facing the Sun, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Schloss Görne, Germany (2021); National Sculpture Prize “Earnest Albert”, De Garage, Mechelen, Belgium (2021); ART IN ISOLATION: CREATIVITY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19, MEI Gallery, Washington DC (2020); The Unruly Apparatus, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp, Belgium (2020); 404 – Page not Found, Kunstenhuis, Harelbeke, Belgium (2020); A Cool Breeze, Rudolfinum Gallery, Prague (2019); Panic in Saksen Park, Hof Ter Saksen, Beveren, Belgium (2019); Lijf & Beeld, Art Center Ten Bogaerde, Koksijde, Belgium (2019); Nonsequitur, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Berlin (2019); Workflow, CC Sint Niklaas, Belgium (2018); Art Brussels, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Brussels (2018); Het Gouden Paviljoen, The Golden Pavillion, De Warande, Turnhout, Belgium (2018); Antwerp is Happening, Galerie S&S, Antwerp, Belgium (2018); Volta 13 Basel, with Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Switzerland (2017); Disclosing the Uncanny, with Hanne Friis, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2017).
Highlights and collections
Athar Jaber has been granted multiple awards and residences which include the Vincke Soers, City of Antwerpen award in 2008, Theodoor Van Lerius sculpture award, Antwerpen in 2007 and a residency at the 6th Lubumbashi Biennial, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo in 2019. His work can be found in important private and public collections such as UN Art Collection, FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy; Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE; Royal Conservatory, Den Haag, Netherlands; National Museum of Fina Arts, Cuba; The Palestinian Museum, Palestine.