Mustafa was born in Latakia in 1956. Known for elegant, monumental sculptures that pierce the consciousness and underscore the fragility of mankind, he has been widely collected in the Arab world for nearly three decades and has been a major contributor to the Majlis Gallery’s exhibition programme since the mid 1990’s.
We first met Mustafa as a young energetic student of Abdul Latif Al Smoudi. He is still energetic and has become a mentor to countless young Syrian artists. We regularly showed his and Abdul Latif’s work together, there was a synergy wrought through their joint interest in and knowledge of Mesopotamian mythology.
He still maintains a home and his Foundation in Old Damascus but travels and exhibits extensively throughout Europe. Fluent in Arabic, English, French and Italian he is a true ambassador for cross cultural communication through Art.
After training in sculpture at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus, he continued his studies at the Fine Arts Academy in Carrara, Italy, graduating in 1996. He has exhibited extensively on the international art circuit since 1979 and has participated in a number of high-profile events such as Latakia Sculpture Biennial (where he
was awarded the Golden Prize) (1997), the Biennial of Alexandria, Egypt (1994), the Sharjah Biennial (1995), and the International Symposium for Sculptors in Valencia, Spain (2001).
Ali’s work is housed in private and public collections, including the National Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Damascus, plus the Jordan National Gallery in Amman, the Sharjah Museum of Art and the Arab World Institute in Paris. Many of his bronze and wood sculptures can also be found in public spaces, such as “The Gate of Syria,” on display in the Mediterranean Olympiad in Pari, Italy, and “The Tower of Memory,” which stands in the Damascus International Fairground.
Indispensible to the Syrian art scene, Ali is also the director of the renowned Damascus art center The Mustafa Ali Art Foundation, which presents exhibitions, workshops, lectures and cultural events throughout. A highly acclaimed artist but also a man who loves to play within his genre.
