Artist Statement/ Biography

Abed Elmajid Shalabi is a sculptor whose work is rooted in the transformation of everyday objects into emotionally and politically-charged sculptures. Shalabi uses ceramic as the main material in his work, allowing him to create visually-appealing gloss objects that conceal their fragile and dysfunctional nature. Through a combination of ceramic, found objects, concrete, wood, and aluminum, Shalabi's work blurs the line between fragility and solidity. His work explores the intersection of Western and Arab cultures, highlighting the gap between the promises and realities of capitalist urban design. Shalabi's installations are theatrical spaces that examine power structures and gender relationships, particularly as they relate to the experiences of queer individuals and the Arab community.

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Abed Elmajid Shalabi is a Palestinian artist currently based in Richmond, Virginia. He holds an MFA in Sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University (2021) and a BFA from Shenkar College in Israel (2019). Shalabi has participated in various artist residencies, including The Skowhegan School for Painting and Sculpture, The Lighthouse Works, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. His artistic practice has been supported by Artis, The Foundation of Contemporary Arts, and The Robert Weil Family Foundation, and he was awarded the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Graduate Fellowship. Shalabi's artwork has been exhibited in various galleries, and artist-run spaces and featured in Washington Post and Burnaway Magazine. He is currently a Hamiltonian Artist Fellow in Washington, D.C.

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