Simon Maarouf

Simon Maarouf is a Dubai based contemporary Syrian artist known for his pop art and hyper-realistic works. He was born in Damascus, Syria in 1985 and grew up within a large family in the mountains with a constant passion for the art scene. As a teenager, Simon was always fascinated and inspired by the history and beauty he could find in the old streets of Damascus. He started to draw and quickly realized that he had found his passion. 

Simon moved to Dubai in 2012 to stay with his older brother as the political instability in Syria became unlivable. In 2013 he held his first exhibition in Berlin, Germany at the Q216 which is located in close proximity to the fashionable Alexanderplatz. A selection of these works were soon requested to be permanently shown in Berlin after his initial exhibition, and another exhibition followed as well in 2014.

Other recent exhibitions include the following:

• 2015 SELF IDENTITIES - Faces, Spaces, Places Palazzo Ca’ Zanardi & Venice Art House, Italy
• 2015 Contemporary Venice, Palazzo Dolfin Bollani, Italy
• 10/2015 PIXELS OF IDENTITIES, Texas, USA 
• 04/2016 WORLD ART DUBAI /Shortlisted candidate EMERGING ARTIST, Dubai, UAE
• 05/2016 Art Fair in Carrousel Du Louvre, Paris, France