Hassan Massoudy - Artist Bio
Hassan Massoudy
In a Few Words
Born In: Najaf, Iraq (1944)
Lives In: Paris, France
Background: Master calligrapher Hassan Massoudy is one of the world’s most influential forces in Arabic calligraphy today.
Themes: Massoudy has achieved a sublime balance that fuses tradition with modernity through his explorative career.
In a Few More Words
Hassan Massoudy was born in 1944 in the city of Najaf in Southern Iraq. Massoudy moved to Baghdad in the early 1960s where his fascination with modern art was sparked. Massoudy apprenticed under a number of celebrated calligraphists, which gave him a solid foundation in the artistic practice of traditional calligraphy. He moved to France a decade later, where he went on to study at the École Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts. During his time there, Hassan Massoudy focused on figurative painting drawing inspiration from the works of Matisse, Soulages, Leger and Picasso while still holding a keen interest in calligraphy.
Hassan Massoudy views letters as images that are deeply connected to our human core; through his art, he’s on a constant quest of self-discovery. Massoudy’s mission is to emit truth and sincere human emotion in everything that he creates. When choosing phrases to depict in his art, Massoudy seeks ones that evoke images and goes on a visual quest that keeps the architecture of words in mind. He then often deconstructs them only to reassemble them in ways that are rhythmical, balanced and beautiful. What makes Massoudy’s approach to calligraphy so special is that he dares to maneuver letters and turn them into abstract forms as that feel well-suited to his creative expression.
Recent Journal Posts
View all-
Souad Abdelrasoul: Mapping the Body, the Earth,...
It’s with immense pride that we welcome rising Egyptian star Souad Abdelrasoul to the Marsoum Art Collective. Abdelrasoul has built a practice that is rigorous, layered, and often haunting over...
Souad Abdelrasoul: Mapping the Body, the Earth,...
It’s with immense pride that we welcome rising Egyptian star Souad Abdelrasoul to the Marsoum Art Collective. Abdelrasoul has built a practice that is rigorous, layered, and often haunting over...
-
The Rhythmic Signature of Mouneer Al-Shaarani's...
Mouneer Al-Shaarani, a name synonymous with innovation in the world of Arabic calligraphy, introduces a striking visual element in his work: the red circular dot. This feature, while not unique...
The Rhythmic Signature of Mouneer Al-Shaarani's...
Mouneer Al-Shaarani, a name synonymous with innovation in the world of Arabic calligraphy, introduces a striking visual element in his work: the red circular dot. This feature, while not unique...
-
Celebrating Arab American Heritage: A Journey T...
Join us in celebrating Arab American Heritage Month, exploring the culture, contributions, and ways to honor Arab American communities and artists.
Celebrating Arab American Heritage: A Journey T...
Join us in celebrating Arab American Heritage Month, exploring the culture, contributions, and ways to honor Arab American communities and artists.
Collector Favorites
-
Hady Boraey
Born In: El Beheira Governorate, Egypt (1984) Lives In: Cairo, Egypt Background: A multi-award winning...
-
Mouneer Al-Shaarani
Born In: Salamiyah, Syria (1952) Lives In: Damascus, Syria Background: The most significant...
-
Muhanna Durra
Born: 1938, Amman, Jordan Died: 2021, Amman, Jordan Background: A pioneering Jordanian...