Tephra ICA is expanding our commitment to supporting local and regional artists by launching a new mini residency program. During the time of the residency, the gallery space will serve as an active studio where artists can explore artmaking, creatively explore ways to display their work, and create a public space for engagement. Each residency cycle will conclude with an exhibition of work at our Signature Gallery.
Abdulrahman Naanseh
Abdulrahman Naanseh is a Syrian artist whose work reimagines Arabic calligraphy as a deeply personal and politically conscious visual language. Rooted in classical traditions passed down by his father, a self-taught calligrapher, Naanseh’s evolving practice bridges the literary, linguistic, and visual, interrogating the complex entanglements of religion and politics in his native Syria. Drawing from ancient and modern Arabic poetry, phonetic analysis, and lived experience, he explores how the written word can embody cultural resistance and personal reflection. His innovative calligraphic style moves beyond legibility to inhabit a liminal space between text and image, making each composition a site of layered meaning and emotional resonance.
His 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 continues to teach 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.