“People were already beginning to forget, what horrible suffering the war had brought them. I did not want to cause fear and panic, but to let people know how dreadful war is and so to stimulate people's powers of resistance.”Otto Dix


Born in Zahlé, Lebanon, Chawky Frenn lived his formative years in a country that nurtured him not only with mysticism, spirituality, and beauty, but also with paradoxes, conflicts, and delusions. Before emigrating to the United States in 1981, he witnessed six years of civil war whose devastating effects and consequences would powerfully influence his life, art, and teaching.
Frenn received a BFA from Mass College of Art and Design in Boston, MA in 1985, and an MFA from Tyler School of Art of Temple University in Philadelphia, PA in 1988. He completed the second year of graduate studies at Temple Abroad in Rome, Italy. Frenn taught at Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, MA; Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, MA; and Edinboro University of PA, in Edinboro, PA. He is currently an Associate Professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.
Frenn exhibited in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Lebanon, Paraguay, and India. He participated in museum exhibits including the Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts in New Castle, PA; Housatonic Museum of Art in Bridgeport, CT; Erie Art Museum in Erie, PA; Arnot Art Museum in Elmira, NY; and Sursock Museum in Beirut, Lebanon. His work is included in the collections of MARe, Museum of Recent Art, Bucharest, Romania; Housatonic Museum of Art in Bridgeport, CT; the Springfield Museum of Art in Springfield, OH; and in private collections.
Frenn received critical acclaim by the New York Times, NY ARTS, Art New England, Boston Globe, Washington Post, Washington City Paper, East City Art, Old Town Crier, Bethesda Gazette, The Dartmouth, Erie Times-News, Concord Monitor, Connecticut Post, Atlanta Magazine, and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in the United States, and An-Nahar, L’Orient - Le Jour, and The Daily Star in Lebanon.
In 2017, Frenn was awarded the Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Award, a research/teaching award in New Delhi, India. He received numerous awards including the Teaching Excellence Award, George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, in 2009; Summer Research Grant, George Mason University in 2003; Blanche E. Colman Award, Mellon Trust, Boston, MA, in 1998; Stacey Scholarship Award, The National Academy of Western Art, Oklahoma City, OK; and Sheldon Bergh Award USA, Basil H. Alkazzi Award, London, England, both in 1993; and Gibran Khalil Gibran Foundation Grant, Gibran Khalil Gibran Foundation, Boston, MA in 1982, 1983, and 1984.
Frenn is the author of two books 100 Boston Artists and 100 Boston Painters published in 2013 and 2012 by Schiffer Publishing. His work appeared in 100 Artists of Washington, D.C. by F. Lennox Campello in 2011, Male Nude Now by David Leddick in 2001, and Encyclopedia of Arab American Artists by Dr. Fayeq S. Oweis in 2008. Art for Life’s Sake, a monograph on Frenn’s work was published by Fine Arts Consulting and Publishing in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2006.
Frenn lives and works in Arlington, VA
As a Lebanese immigrant who fled a war-torn country in 1981, arriving in the United States felt like entering a land of opportunity, a beacon of democracy, and the pinnacle of human rights. However, through years of living and observing our ideals and politics, I've come to realize that even in the Land of the Free, our rights have often been hard-fought rather than freely granted by those in power.
I paint to give voice to my belief in the dignity, nobility, and beauty of being human. My art is an encounter, not entertainment; an act of defiance, not escape. My paintings are active meditations on inner and outer truths and the clash of realities. Confronting life's tragedies to foster understanding and healing is ultimately life-affirming. I implore those committed to human rights and justice to reevaluate whether our beliefs, words, and actions are causing more suffering, prejudice, and bigotry than we intend to perceive.
The genuine needs and aspirations of humanity are more similar than divergent. Our sufferings and fears are not fundamentally different from one another. The resemblance of our wounds can serve as a unifying force, not a dividing one. The sameness of our insecurities can serve as a bridge, not a wall, in our coexistence. Crises have the power to either transform into dangers that threaten us with discord and collapse or opportunities that offer understanding and healing.
Art provokes thought, stimulates action, and inspires change by challenging dominant narratives and expressing suppressed perspectives. It serves as a channel to raise awareness, explore creative solutions, and amplify individual voices on the global issues we collectively face. My engagement in creative research and teaching attests to the impact each individual can have in bridging differences, celebrating diversity, and advocating for human rights, justice, and peace.
I firmly believe that art is not merely a passive observer of history but a catalyst for meaningful change. Dare to be a bridge, not a wall.
1987 – 88 | Tyler School of Art - Temple Abroad. Rome, Italy. MFA, Painting. Studied with Richard Raiselis |
1986 – 87 | Tyler School of Art of Temple University. Philadelphia, PA. Studied with John Moore |
Fall 1985 | Pratt Institute. Brooklyn, NY |
1982 – 85 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Boston, MA. BFA, Painting. Studied with George Nick and Paul Rahilly |
2006- Present | Associate Professor, George Mason University. Fairfax, VA |
Fall 2017 | Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Award, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, India |
2000 – 2006 | Assistant Professor, George Mason University. Fairfax, VA |
Spring 2000 | Instructor, Montserrat College of Art. Beverly, MA |
1998 – 1999 | Visiting Assistant Professor, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Edinboro, PA |
1997 – 1998 | Instructor, Montserrat College of Art. Beverly, MA |
1995 – 1998 | Instructor, Bridgewater State College. Bridgewater, MA |
1990 – 1998 | Instructor, Cambridge Center for Adult Education. Cambridge, MA |
1991 – 1995 | Instructor, Brookline Adult and Community Education Program. Brookline, MA |
Summer 1995 | Instructor, Elderhostel Intensive. Horizons. Williamsburg, MA |
2020 | We the People. For Show or For Sure? Sep 11, 2020 - Jan 8, 2021. The Delaware Contemporary Museum. Wilmington, DE |
2014 | We the People. Nestor Gallery. Milton Academy, Milton, MA |
2013 | We the People. Hess Gallery, Pine Manor College. Chestnut Hill, MA |
2012 |
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2009 | Can humankind save itself? Lamar Dodd Art Center, LaGrange College. LaGrange, GA |
2007 | Missa Pro Pace. Arlington Arts Center. Arlington, VA |
2006 |
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2005 | What is Truth? Washington Theological Union. Washington, DC |
2004 | US and THEM. Fraser Gallery. Bethesda, MD |
2003 – 04 | For Show or For Sure? Upper Jewett Exhibition Corridor, Dartmouth College. Hanover, NH |
2002 |
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2000 – 02 |
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2000 | Thanatos and Eros. Passions Gallery. Provincetown, MA |
1998 | Wandering. Voss Gallery. Düsseldorf, Germany |
1997 |
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1996 |
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1995 | Art for Life’s Sake. Carnegie Arts Center. Covington, KY |
1994 | Big. Works of Surprising Size and Impact. The Art Center in Hargate, St. Paul’s School. Concord, NH |
1993 |
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1992 | A Living Trail. McKillop Gallery, Salve Regina University. Newport, RI |
1991 |
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1988 |
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1987 | The Quest. Tyler Gallery, Tyler School of Art. Philadelphia, PA |
1985 | Raison d'Etre. Tower Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Boston, MA |
2021 |
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2014 | Beirut Art Fair. Cynthia Nouhra Art Gallery. Beirut International Exhibition & Leisure center (BIEL). Beirut, Lebanon. Sep 19-21. |
2013 |
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2012 | Galvanized Truth – A Tribute to George Nick. Duxbury Art Complex Museum. Duxbury, MA |
2010 | Convergence: New Art From Lebanon. The Katzen American University Museum. Washington, DC |
2007 |
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2006 |
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2005 | 73rd Annual Cumberland Valley Artists Exhibition. Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. Hagerstown, MD |
2004 | 20th Contemporary Art Fair. MAC 2000. Espace Champerret. Paris, France |
2002 | The Affordable Art Fair. Gescheidle. New York, NY |
2001 – 02 | Re-presenting Representation 5. Arnot Art Museum. Elmira, NY |
1998 |
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1997 | XXI Salon d’Automne. Sursock Museum. Beirut, Lebanon |
1995 |
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1994 |
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1993 |
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1992 | ANA 21. The Holter Museum of Art. Helena, MT |
1991 |
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1989 | Springfield Art League 70th Annual Exhibition. Springfield Museum of Fine Arts and George Walker Vincent Smith Art Museum. Springfield, MA |
1987 |
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1986 | National April Salon. Springville Museum of Art. Springville, UT |
2021 | Standing up. 2021 Violence Transformed/Cambridge College. Boston, MA. April 1-30, 2021 |
2019 | No Hate! The Center for Contemporary Political Art, Washington, DC |
2018 | Defining the Art of Change In The Age Of Trump. The Center for Contemporary Political Art, Washington, DC |
2017 |
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2016 | SOS Art Liban. UNESCO. Beirut, Lebanon |
2014 | Sight Specific – A Selection of American Perceptual Painting. Concord Art Association. Concord, MA. Curated by George Nick. Exhibiting artists include: Edwin Dickinson, John Frederick Kensett, Walter Tandy Murch, John Frederick Peto, Charles Demuth, Philip Pearlstein, Neil Welliver, Richard Estes, Gregory Gillespie, John Moore, Bernard Chaet, Lennart Anderson, George Nick, Paul Rahilly, Richard Raiselis, Eric Aho, Harold Reddicliffe, Philip Geiger… |
2013 |
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2011 |
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2010 | Lebanese Diaspora. First International Art Exhibition at Notre Dame University. Louaizé, Lebanon |
2009 | Larger than life. The Art Center in Hargate, St. Paul’s School. Concord, NH |
2008 |
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2007 | Arligton to Aachen: Bridging the Distance. Arlington Arts Center. Arlington, VA |
2004 |
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2003 |
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2002 |
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2001 | Exposicion Binacional Paraguayo-Americano. The Paraguayan American Cultural Center. Asuncion, Paraguay |
2000 | Revealing the Nude—A Timeless Passion. Chase Gallery. Boston, MA |
1999 |
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1998 |
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1997 |
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1996 |
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1995 |
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1994 |
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1993 |
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1992 |
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1991 |
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1990 | ART/AIDS. Laura Knott Gallery, Bradford College. Bradford, MA |
1989 |
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2023 |
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2021 |
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2020 |
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2019 | Lecturer. Transforming Walls to Bridges. Busboys and Poets. Washington, DC |
2017 |
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2014 | Lecturer. We the People. Milton Academy. Milton, MA |
2013 |
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2012 | Lecturer and workshop. University of Balamand. Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts. Balamand, Lebanon |
2011 | Lecturer. Sponsored by Cynthia Nouhra Art Gallery. Monroe Hotel. Beirut, Lebanon |
2009 |
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2008 | Lecturer. New York Academy of Art. New York, NY |
2007 | Panelist. Bridges to Contemporary Arts: Lebenszeichen/Sign of Life. Arlington Arts Center. Arlington, VA |
2006 |
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2005 | Lecturer. Art and Spirituality. Brown Bag Lunch. Washington Theological Union. Washington, DC |
2004 |
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2002 | Guest Artist/Lecturer. St. Paul’s School. Concord, NH |
2001 |
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2023 | Workshop. MACAM, Modern and Contemporary Art Museum. Alita, Lebanon |
2021 |
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2020 | Lecturer and panelist. We the People. For Show or For Sure? with Mel Hardy, Founder of the Millennium Arts Salon, and Traci Manza-Murphy, Executive Director of the Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence. The Delaware Contemporary. Wilmington, DE. October 2, 2020. |
2019 |
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2017 |
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2014 |
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2013 | Judge. The Capitol Hill Art League. Washington, DC |
2011 | Judge. Rockville Art League Member Show. Rockville Art League. Rockville, MD |
2009 |
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2008 | Guest Critic. Maryland Institute College of Art. Baltimore, MD |
2007 | Judge. Third Annual Festival. Port Warwick Art & Sculpture Festival. Newport News, VA |
2006 |
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2005 |
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2004 |
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2003 |
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Fall 1999 | Research and travel for the traveling exhibition Ecce Homo |
1996 | Speaker. South Shore Art Center. Cohasset, MA |
1995 | Visiting Artist / Lecturer. Salve Regina University. Newport, RI |
1994 | Visiting Artist / Lecturer. St. Paul’s School. Concord, NH |
1991 | Visiting Artist / Lecturer. Bradford College. Bradford, MA |
1989 – 96 | Guest Reviewer. Mass College of Art. Boston, MA |
2017 | Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Awards. Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES). New Delhi, India. |
2010 | Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Awards, Finalist. Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES). |
2009 | Teaching Excellence Award. George Mason University. Fairfax, VA |
2006 | Teaching Excellence Award, Finalist. George Mason University. Fairfax, VA |
2003 | Summer Research Grant. George Mason University. Fairfax, VA |
2002 | Teaching Excellence Award, Finalist. George Mason University. Fairfax, VA |
1998 | Blanche E. Colman Award. Mellon Trust. Boston, MA |
1996 | Award for Excellence. Hollis Arts Society. Hollis, NH |
1995 |
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1994 | Just Say Roe. Album Cover for Sire Records Company. New York, NY |
1993 |
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1990 | Semi-finalist. Massachusetts Artist Fellowship in Painting. Boston, MA |
1982 – 84 | Gibran Khalil Gibran Foundation Grant. Gibran Khalil Gibran Foundation. Boston, MA |
COLLECTIONS |
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MARe, Museum of Recent Art, Bucharest, Romania |
The Springfield Museum of Art. Springfield, OH |
Housatonic Museum of Art. Bridgeport, CT |
Mr. George Berkowitz, Owner, Legal Seafood. Boston, MA |
Mr. Howard Klein, Vice President, Warner Brothers Records. Burbank, CA |
Mr. Basil H. Alkazzi, President, Basil H. Alkazzi Award. London, England |
Mr. Luis A. Ferre, President, Museo De Arte De Ponce. San Juan, PR |
100 Boston Artists | Author. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Atglen, PA. 2013 |
100 Boston Painters | Author. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Atglen, PA. 2012 |
Ghousoun Warifa | Antoine Abu Rahl. Nelson Publishing. Beirut, Lebanon, 2015 |
100 Artists of Washington, DC | F. Lennox Campello. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Atglen, PA. 2011 |
Encyclopedia of Arab American Artists | Dr. Fayeq S. Oweis. Greenwood Press. Westport, CT. 2008 |
Al-Kafila | “The Doll”. Zahran, Saudi Arabia. Jan/Feb 2007 |
Venganza Injusta | Carlos Erazo. Book Cover. Puerto Rico. 2005 |
Art for Life’s Sake | Hard cover book with essays by Donald Kuspit, Mark Daniel Cohen, Raphaël Karim Hamoudi, Cesar Nammour, John D. O’Hern, and Howard L. Resnikoff. Fine Arts Consulting and Publishing S.A.R.L. Beirut, Lebanon. 2006 |
2006 Artist Directory | Washington Project for the Arts/ Corcoran. 2006 |
American Art Collector - South | Alcove Books. Berkeley, CA. 2005 |
Devenir un Dieu | Patrick Bruneteaux. Book Cover. Edition Publibook Université. Book cover, Paris, France. 2004 |
Terrain 42 Homme/Femme | Patrick Bruneteaux. “Obstacle aux recherches sur les camps de la mort”. Maison des sciences de l’homme/Ministère de la Culture et la Communication, Paris, France. 2004 |
Amam al-Lawha | Cesar Nammour. Dar al Founoun al-Jamila, Beirut, Lebanon. 2004 |
2004 Artist Directory | Washington Project for the Arts/ Corcoran.2004 |
2003 Artist Directory | Washington Project for the Arts/ Corcoran. 2003 |
Male Nude Now | David Leddick. Universe Publishing, A Division of Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. New York, NY. 2001 |
Ecce Homo | Essays by JoEl Levy Logiudice, Kirby Malone, Kimberly Koller-Jones, Robbin Zella, John D. O’Hern, Dorothy Joiner, Patrick Bruneteaux. 2000 |
Defining the Art of Change In the Age of Trump | The Center for Contemporary Political Art. Washington, DC. 2018 |
Sight Specific – A Selection of American Perceptual Painting | Concord Art Association. Concord, MA. 2014 |
Galvanized Truth – A Tribute to George Nick | Duxbury Art Complex Museum. Duxbury, MA. 2012 |
Imaging the Distance |
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Exhibition 280 | Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV. 2007 |
Slow Painting: A Determined Renaissance | Oglethorpe University Museum of Art. Atlanta, GA. 2006 |
MAC 2000 | 20th Contemporary Art Fair. Espace Champerret, Paris, France. 2004 |
New American Paintings | Ninth Open Studios Mid-Atlantic Competition, Boston, MA. 2004 |
RePresenting Representation 5 | 2001-02 Biennial Exhibition. Arnot Art Museum. Elmira, NY |
New American Paintings | Fourth Open Studios Northeast Competition, Boston, MA. 1999 |
16th September Competition | 16th Annual September Competition. Alexandria Museum of Art. Alexandria, LA. 1998 |
New American Paintings | Open Studios Northeast Competition, Boston, MA. 1993 |
10th September Competition | 10th Annual September Competition. Alexandria Museum of Art. Alexandria, LA. 1991 |
Station | Program | Date | Place |
Turkish Radio Television | Cultural News | May 22, 2021 | Middle East |
Al Hurra | Al Majalla | July 4, 2013 | Middle East |
MTV- TV | Kitab | August 4, 2012 | Beirut, Lebanon |
Future - TV | Crosswords | March 3, 2012 | Beirut, Lebanon |
LBC - TV | Helwe Beirut | February 20, 2012 | Beirut, Lebanon |
Tele Liban - TV | Sabah el Kheir ya Loubnan | February 22, 2012 | Beirut, Lebanon |
MTV- TV | BlockNote | February 24, 2012 | Beirut, Lebanon |
WAMU 88.5 FM | Kojo Nmandi Show | February 21, 2004 | Washington, DC |
WTOP “Man About Town”& WGMS Classical 103.5 | Bob Madigan | July/August, 2003 | Washington, DC |
WETA TV “Around Town” | Bill Dunlap | April 18&20, 2002 | Washington, DC |
Publication | Writer | Date | Place |
East City Art | Claudia Rousseau | December 8, 2020 | Washington, DC |
Old Town Crier | Lennox Campello | November 1, 2020 | Alexandria, VA |
Al Liwaa | Doha Mol | July 5, 2019 | Beirut, Lebanon |
The Boston Globe | Sebastian Smee | July 4, 2014 | Boston, MA |
ArtScope (Cover) | Cole Tracy | March/April, 2014 | New England |
ArtScope | Cole Tracy | October 21, 2013 | New England |
Berkshire Fine Arts | Charles Giuliano | September 16, 2013 | berkshirefinearts.com |
The Washington Post | Mark Jenkins | January 25, 2013 | Washington, DC |
Berkshire Fine Arts | Charles Giuliano | June 4, 2012 | berkshirefinearts.com |
The Daily Star | Chirine Lahoud | March 9, 2012 | Beirut, Lebanon |
L’Orient - Le Jour | Zena Zalzal | March 2, 2012 | Beirut, Lebanon |
Amarican Contemporary Art | F. Lennox Campello | February, 2012 | Washington, DC |
L’Orient - Le Jour | Colette Khalaf | December 13, 2011 | Beirut, Lebanon |
L’Orient - Le Jour | Colette Khalaf | July 27, 2011 | Beirut, Lebanon |
Aachener Zeitumg | Christina Diels | November 9, 2007 | Aachen, Germany |
Al Asr | Antoine Zarzour | June 22, 2006 | Zahle, Lebanon |
L’Orient - Le Jour | Maya Ghandour Hert | May 30, 2006 | Beirut, Lebanon |
The Gazette | Karen Schafer | June 8, 2005 | Bethesda, MD |
Aïshti Magazine | Kaelen Wilson-Goldie | February/March 2005 | Beirut, Lebanon |
The Daily Star | Kaelen Wilson-Goldie | December 23, 2004 | Beirut, Lebanon |
ArabAd | Mona Iskandar | October 2004 | Beirut, Lebanon |
The Gazette | Claudia Rousseau | September 22, 2004 | Bethesda, MD |
The Washington Post | Michael O’Sullivan | September 17, 2004 | Washington, DC |
Washington City Paper | Dave Jamieson | September 10, 2004 | Washington, DC |
The Virginian-Pilot | Teresa Annas | June 19, 2004 | Virginia Beach, VA |
The Gazette | Claudia Rousseau | February 25, 2004 | Bethesda, MD |
The Dartmouth | Mignon Lamia | February 07, 2004 | Hanover, NH |
The Dartmouth | Gerald Auten | January 30, 2004 | Hanover, NH |
The Dartmouth | Barry Hashimoto | January 23, 2004 | Hanover, NH |
The Dartmouth | Bruce Gago | January 22, 2004 | Hanover, NH |
Washington, DC Art News | Lennox Campello | November 02, 2003 | Washington, DC |
The New Mexican | Craig Smith | June 14-20, 2002 | Santa Fe, NM |
Concord Monitor | Christine Hamm | January 17, 2002 | Concord, NH |
NY Arts | Mark Daniel Cohen | October 2001 | New York, NY |
Art New England | Mark Daniel Cohen | Oct/Nov 2001 | New England |
Erie Times-News | Karen Rene Merkle | October 18, 2001 | Erie, PA |
An-Nahar | Laure Ghoreib | July 21, 2001 | Beirut, Lebanon |
The New York Times | William Zimmer | July 8, 2001 | New York, NY |
Connecticut Post | Phyllis A.S. Boros | June 3, 2001 | Hartford, CT |
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | Rebecca Sodergren | May 15, 2001 | Pittsburgh, PA |
The Boston Sunday Globe | Mark Dagostino | April 6, 1997 | Boston, MA |
The Sunday Telegraph | Dean Shalhoup | April 6, 1997 | Nashua, NH |
Boston Sunday Globe | Mark Dagostino | April 7, 1996 | Boston, MA |
The Boston Globe | Cate McQuaid | January 18, 1996 | Boston, MA |
Art New England | Susan Mulski | Oct/Nov 1995 | New England |
Concord Monitor | Susan DiLuzio | October 13, 1994 | Concord, NH |
South End News | Cate McQuaid | May 26, 1994 | Boston, MA |
Bay Windows | Shawn Hill | May 12, 1994 | Boston, MA |
Improper Bostonian | Charles Giuliano | May 11-24, 1994 | Boston, MA |
Boston Sunday Globe | Nancy Stapen | May 23, 1993 | Boston, MA |
Ray Gun | Jack Basher | June/July 1993 | USA/Canada |
Where | Colleen Grewing | May 1993 | Washington, DC |
Newport This Week | John Pantalone | October 29, 1992 | Newport, RI |
Atlanta Magazine | Logan Mabe | September 1992 | Atlanta, GA |
North Shore Sunday | Alexander Stevens | December 9, 1990 | Lawrence, MA |
Art New England | Thomas Frick | February 1990 | New England |
The Boston Globe | Christine Temin | September 21, 1989 | Boston, MA |
The Boston Globe | Christine Temin | June 15, 1989 | Boston, MA |
Boston Herald | Nancy Stapen | June 9, 1989 | Boston, MA |
Popoli | Giuseppe Bellucci | November 1988 | Milan, Italy |
An-Nahar | Antoine Abu Rahl | April 29, 1988 | Beirut, Lebanon |
Hadanat el Tufl | Antoine Abu Rahl | April 1988 | Beirut, Lebanon |