Sami Mohammad Ahmed Saleh

Place: Kuwait City

Born: 1943

Biography:

Sami Mohammad Ahmed Saleh, born on October 1, 1943, in Kuwait City, is a prominent sculptor and artist known for his thought-provoking bronze sculptures. His work primarily focuses on the ideas of freedom, oppression, genocide, and suffering. In 1971, he was commissioned to create a statue of Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah.

Early Life and Education

As a child, Sami Mohammad Ahmed Saleh showed an interest in playing with clay, creating forms that resembled birds and animals. He sold these creations to his friends, which marked the beginning of his artistic journey. During his time at Sabaah School, he helped create statues for a school project commemorating the battle of Port Said and Port Fouad. His work was awarded first prize by Sheikh Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah, the General Director of the education department. Sami Mohammad Ahmed Saleh's early works were influenced by renowned artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. He received a government scholarship to study at the College of Fine Arts in Cairo, where he completed his degree in 1970. In 1967, he co-founded the Kuwaiti Society of Formative Artists.

Career

Before leaving for the USA to study further, Sami Mohammad Ahmed Saleh was deputized as a visiting artist by the Kuwaiti University to teach tutorials in visual arts. During his time in the USA, he started working with bronze casting and other mediums and techniques at the Johnson Institute for artists in Princeton. His first major collection, Curves, marked the beginning of his successful career. After completing his education, Sami Mohammad Ahmed Saleh returned to Kuwait in 1976 and began working on Before birth, After birth, and Motherhood. In 1978, he was selected to represent Kuwait at the Kuwaiti Artists Exhibition in Paris and later represented Kuwait at the Tenth International Sculpture conference held in Toronto. Sami Mohammad Ahmed Saleh's work has been presented at various exhibitions, including the 55th Venice Biennale in 2013, which marked Kuwait's first participation in the event. He has also written a book about his work and career, entitled The Art of Sami Mohammad, published in 1995.

• His work can be found at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sharjah, which dedicated a separate wing for his artworks.
• Sami Mohammad Ahmed Saleh has been commissioned to design the State of Kuwait Merit Award Trophy and the golden medal and trophy of The National Achievement Award.
• His work has been recognized by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, and he has been awarded several prizes for his contributions to the art world.

by Sami Mohammad Ahmed Saleh include his Box series, Sabra and Chantila, and Hunger and Mother. His work continues to be celebrated for its thought-provoking and emotionally charged themes, making him a prominent figure in the Kuwaiti art scene. https://Wikioo.org/@/Sami-Mohammad-Ahmed-Saleh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_Mohammad https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/O/A@D3CPGV https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/O/A@D3C6D3