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Faculty of Art

Drawing and Painting

Meet the Artist

Rama

Kareem

Drawing and Painting

“My work lives in the fertile tension between spontaneity and control, structure and dissolution. Using oil and china-marker, I create enigmatic "chromatic organisms," which appear between the abstract and representational forms. These organisms respond to the forces brought about by chance, gravity, colour, and pigment. Each motif arises from a meditative ritual of layering, smudging, and erasure, reflecting the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. I’m driven by a fascination with colour as a living language—each pigment a dynamic agent that bleeds, resonates, and guides the eye through a composition. When two colors collide, a third tone emerges, which prompts myself to amplify its presence or to subdue it with a gentle brushstroke. The resulting micro-interactions create visual frameworks that evoke emotional contours, such as the introspective thoughts of deep ultramarine or the optimism of yellows. By reinstating intention and allowing the materiality to act as a living language, I create environments of surprise where the paint behaves organically, inviting viewers to explore the possibilities of change.”

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RamaKareem
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Rama Kareem (b.2002) is an artist living and studying in Toronto. Through her works, she explores the organic language through the senses, bringing forth the living structures and gestures that resonate through the world around us. As viewers watch her work, they may be drawn to reflect on the world's delicate yet expansive complexity. Her oil paintings are characterized by their depth and fluidity, and they capture the essence of life. Through her careful observation of natural forms and biological landscapes, she draws inspiration from these elements and creates unique and culturally significant works. Her creative process combines the immediacy of these natural structures with the traditional elements, infusing them with cultural significance.
OCAD U - Faculty of Art
Drawing and Painting
Major In progress, 2025

Oil painting, drawing, abstraction, charcoal and graphite

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