Karim is an accomplished artist whose work navigates the complexities of identity, human expression, and form. Holding a double degree in Architecture and Fine Arts from the Lebanese American University and a Master’s in Fine Arts from De Montfort University in Leicester, Karim combines technical expertise with artistic innovation in their practice.

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Their art has been showcased in various notable exhibitions in Lebanon and a smaller one in Leicester, England, each exploring profound themes that resonate deeply with audiences. One of their recent exhibitions examined the fluidity of gender and form, while another delved into the dynamic essence of human vitality.

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My work is a declaration of authorship over perception. It’s about reclaiming my internal world, choosing what I see, think, and feel, instead of being passively shaped by it.

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At its core, my practice is rooted in living with OCD; specifically, Pure O, or "purely obsessional" OCD. Unlike the stereotypes of visible rituals or repetitive behaviors, Pure O unfolds entirely in the mind. It’s a relentless, silent loop of intrusive thoughts, compulsive analysis, mental checking, and doubt. Thoughts arrive uninvited, irrational yet convincing, often disturbing, and always demanding attention. For years, they ran the show; I didn’t act so much as react. My mind became a battlefield of avoidance, reassurance, and fear of losing control.

Now, the canvas is my way of taking it back.

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My art doesn’t aim to silence these thoughts; it invites them in, and reshapes them. The obsessive mental noise becomes visual structure. The chaos is given color. The anxiety is no longer fought; it’s witnessed, honored, even held. Sometimes I let my OCD flow freely on the canvas, translating its sharp, fast rhythm into something visual, giving it a playful or luminous tone. Other times, I sit with the discomfort, resisting the urge to fix, and allow it to stay unresolved in form and texture. My painting becomes both exposure and response; an act of creative resistance.

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Visually, my work emerges from the friction between impulse and discipline: the loose, intuitive rhythm of doodling and the structured clarity of cubism. One is raw instinct, the other is order and containment. This contrast mirrors the internal negotiation of living with OCD; the mind that spins and questions endlessly, and the self that steps in and says, “I decide what this becomes.”

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Perfectionist OCD has played its role too. There were years when I couldn’t paint out of fear; fear of mishandling my work, of making something not “good enough,” of ruining its value. I obsessed over keeping things pristine. Eventually, I stopped creating altogether. But over time, I began to see that imperfections weren’t failures; they were part of the truth. A torn edge, a smudge, a lack of resources; these aren’t flaws to avoid, but elements I now include, even welcome. Sometimes I incorporate them on purpose, not to destroy the work, but to liberate myself from the fear that once controlled it.

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This isn’t just a creative process. It’s a practice of self-authorship.
I don’t wait for clarity, I generate it.
I don’t let form emerge by accident, I summon it.
I don’t surrender, I direct. I author. I define.

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My canvas is a healing ground, a space where thoughts become matter, anxiety becomes movement, and control returns not through suppression, but transformation. This is a personal visual system, where instinct and awareness don’t fight, but collaborate.

In my work, nothing is accidental. Everything is chosen.

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A lifelong painter with a background in architecture, Karim's work continues to evolve, captivating audiences with its depth, precision, and emotional resonance. Their artistic journey is defined by a commitment to pushing the boundaries of contemporary art and provoking thoughtful engagement. Karim's ability to blend technical expertise with creative innovation has resulted in a body of work that is both visually stunning and intellectually stimulating.