Habib Hajallie

Joined Artfinder: Nov. 2017

Artworks for sale: 91

(1)

United Kingdom

About Habib Hajallie

 
 
  • Biography

    I am an honouree of The Forbes 30 under 30 list for Europe 2023 and the winner of The UK New Artist of the Year. In March 2022 I was elected as a member of The Royal Society of British Artists.

    My practice looks to empower often marginalised minorities through the exploration of identity within portraiture. Confronting socio-political issues within my drawings can act as a catalyst for a discourse regarding the perception of various demographics as being of lesser humanistic value. Specifically, with the disenfranchised often being undermined by mainstream media; somewhat paradoxically reflecting an archaic hierarchy of status, similar to colonial ideologies.

    Using antique texts and maps as the canvases for my works enables me to pragmatically re-contextualise ephemera, creating a cohesion between the concepts informing the work and the aesthetic output. As I empower various figures; I simultaneously do so with the ground used, presenting them within new contexts. Placing myself or family members as the subjects of my portraits evokes a sense of immediacy, apropos to navigating the intersection of my western upbringing and familial west African culture.

    Informed by my Sierra Leonean and Lebanese heritage, I am conscious of representing figures that have historically been conspicuously omitted from traditional British portraiture. I call upon anecdotal references to portray scenes that are occasionally quasi surrealist representations; confronting lingering ethnocentrisms that are still embedded within modern western society.

    I employ delicate mark making techniques with precise strokes of the everyday ballpoint pen. This process is influenced by sketches from the high renaissance. I meticulously build layers of tonality leading to an element of photorealism. Through an almost contradictory process of using this relatively modern art medium with a classical approach to mark making: I look to celebrate authentic drawing within the digital age.

    At the core of my practice, I depict motifs that contradict largely accepted revisionist narratives apropos to West African Histories. The portraits investigate how identity can be constructed by historical oppression, with semblances of antiquated ideologies at the root of nuanced prejudices that I have personally experienced. Ultimately, my work looks to embolden individuals that feel as though they have been labelled as the ‘other’ in any manifestation. 


  • Links
  • Education

    2014 - 2017

    Loughborough University

  • Awards

    2022

    UK New Artist of The Year

    Winner UK New Artist of The Year at Award's ceremony at Saatchi Gallery

    Show more awards Hide

    2021

    The Drawing Society: Young Artist Award

    'Painful Joy of Love' (2020, graphite pencil drawing) won this award at the 99th Annual open exhibition held by The Drawing Society at The Mall Galleries

    2020

    Embracing Our Differences Exhibition: Best in Show

    'Can I Touch Your Hair' won the best in show at The Embracing Our Differences Exhibition in Sarasota, Florida 2020. This work was chosen from over 14,000 entrants.

    2020

    SIgnature Art Prize: Drawing & Printmaking 2020

    Winner of the Signature Art Prize: Drawing & Printmaking category with the artwork "Can I Touch Your Hair?"

    2019

    The Drawing Society: Young Artist Award

    'Hajjah Aliya' was awarded the Young Artist Award at The Drawing Society's Draw'19 exhibition at Menier Gallery, in London

    2016

    Fine Art Trade Guild Student artist of the year

    Fine Art Trade Guild Student artist of the year 2016, with 'Jammer' (biro portrait).
  • Upcoming Events

    There are no upcoming events

    Show previous events Hide previous events

    Previous events

    Event: Royal Society of British Artists Annual Exhibition 2021

    Dates: 15 Apr 2021 - 24 Apr 2021

    Venue: Mall Galleries, London

    'The Pa' was highly commended for the De Lazslo Foundation Prize.

    Event: Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 208th Exhibition

    Dates: 1 Sep 2020 - 12 Sep 2020

    Venue: Mall Galleries, London

    2 works selected for the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 208th Exhibition - Mall Galleries, London

    Event: Royal Society of British Artists 303rd annual exhibition

    Dates: 19 Feb 2020 - 29 Feb 2020

    Venue: Mall Galleries, The Mall, London, UK

    Royal Society of British Artists 303rd annual exhibition 2 works selected for the prestigious open exhibition

    Event: Royal Society of British Artists: Rising Stars 2018

    Dates: 9 Mar 2018 - 23 May 2018

    Venue: The Framers Gallery, 36 Windmill Street, (Artefact Showroom) London W1T 2JT

    20 Semi-finalists showing the best recent Fine Art graduates in the UK.

    Event: Emerald Winter Pride Open

    Dates: 19 Jan 2018 - 5 Jun 2018

    Venue: The House of St Barnabas, Soho Square, London

    Emerald Winter Pride Open Art Competition - showing amongst 20 finalist from over 300 entrants

    Event: Diaspora Dialogue

    Dates: 18 Oct 2017 - 25 Oct 2017

    Venue: Winns Gallery, Lloyds Park, Walthalmstow, London

    Exhibition featuring artists of Caribbean or African heritage.

    Event: New Artist Fair

    Dates: 8 Sep 2017 - 11 Sep 2017

    Venue: New Artist Fair 2017, Truman Brewery, London

    Art Fair featuring 100 emerging artists.

    Event: Guild artists exhibition 2016

    Dates: 1 May 2016 - 29 May 2016

    Venue: Guild gallery, london

    Fine Art Guild Trade Exhibition 2016. Featuring my award winning work 'Jammer'

    Event: Royal Society of British Artists: Rising Stars

    Dates: 1 Feb 2016 - 28 Feb 2016

    Venue: Lloyds register gallery, London

    Royal Society of British Artists: Rising Stars 2016. The best emerging artist under the age of 25 in the UK.

Links


Education

2014 - 2017

Loughborough University


Awards

2022

UK New Artist of The Year

Winner UK New Artist of The Year at Award's ceremony at Saatchi Gallery

Show more awards Hide

2021

The Drawing Society: Young Artist Award

'Painful Joy of Love' (2020, graphite pencil drawing) won this award at the 99th Annual open exhibition held by The Drawing Society at The Mall Galleries

2020

Embracing Our Differences Exhibition: Best in Show

'Can I Touch Your Hair' won the best in show at The Embracing Our Differences Exhibition in Sarasota, Florida 2020. This work was chosen from over 14,000 entrants.

2020

SIgnature Art Prize: Drawing & Printmaking 2020

Winner of the Signature Art Prize: Drawing & Printmaking category with the artwork "Can I Touch Your Hair?"

2019

The Drawing Society: Young Artist Award

'Hajjah Aliya' was awarded the Young Artist Award at The Drawing Society's Draw'19 exhibition at Menier Gallery, in London

2016

Fine Art Trade Guild Student artist of the year

Fine Art Trade Guild Student artist of the year 2016, with 'Jammer' (biro portrait).

There are no upcoming events

Show previous events Hide previous events

Previous events

Event: Royal Society of British Artists Annual Exhibition 2021

Dates: 15 Apr 2021 - 24 Apr 2021

Venue: Mall Galleries, London

'The Pa' was highly commended for the De Lazslo Foundation Prize.

Event: Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 208th Exhibition

Dates: 1 Sep 2020 - 12 Sep 2020

Venue: Mall Galleries, London

2 works selected for the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 208th Exhibition - Mall Galleries, London

Event: Royal Society of British Artists 303rd annual exhibition

Dates: 19 Feb 2020 - 29 Feb 2020

Venue: Mall Galleries, The Mall, London, UK

Royal Society of British Artists 303rd annual exhibition 2 works selected for the prestigious open exhibition

Event: Royal Society of British Artists: Rising Stars 2018

Dates: 9 Mar 2018 - 23 May 2018

Venue: The Framers Gallery, 36 Windmill Street, (Artefact Showroom) London W1T 2JT

20 Semi-finalists showing the best recent Fine Art graduates in the UK.

Event: Emerald Winter Pride Open

Dates: 19 Jan 2018 - 5 Jun 2018

Venue: The House of St Barnabas, Soho Square, London

Emerald Winter Pride Open Art Competition - showing amongst 20 finalist from over 300 entrants

Event: Diaspora Dialogue

Dates: 18 Oct 2017 - 25 Oct 2017

Venue: Winns Gallery, Lloyds Park, Walthalmstow, London

Exhibition featuring artists of Caribbean or African heritage.

Event: New Artist Fair

Dates: 8 Sep 2017 - 11 Sep 2017

Venue: New Artist Fair 2017, Truman Brewery, London

Art Fair featuring 100 emerging artists.

Event: Guild artists exhibition 2016

Dates: 1 May 2016 - 29 May 2016

Venue: Guild gallery, london

Fine Art Guild Trade Exhibition 2016. Featuring my award winning work 'Jammer'

Event: Royal Society of British Artists: Rising Stars

Dates: 1 Feb 2016 - 28 Feb 2016

Venue: Lloyds register gallery, London

Royal Society of British Artists: Rising Stars 2016. The best emerging artist under the age of 25 in the UK.


 

Biography

I am an honouree of The Forbes 30 under 30 list for Europe 2023 and the winner of The UK New Artist of the Year. In March 2022 I was elected as a member of The Royal Society of British Artists.

My practice looks to empower often marginalised minorities through the exploration of identity within portraiture. Confronting socio-political issues within my drawings can act as a catalyst for a discourse regarding the perception of various demographics as being of lesser humanistic value. Specifically, with the disenfranchised often being undermined by mainstream media; somewhat paradoxically reflecting an archaic hierarchy of status, similar to colonial ideologies.

Using antique texts and maps as the canvases for my works enables me to pragmatically re-contextualise ephemera, creating a cohesion between the concepts informing the work and the aesthetic output. As I empower various figures; I simultaneously do so with the ground used, presenting them within new contexts. Placing myself or family members as the subjects of my portraits evokes a sense of immediacy, apropos to navigating the intersection of my western upbringing and familial west African culture.

Informed by my Sierra Leonean and Lebanese heritage, I am conscious of representing figures that have historically been conspicuously omitted from traditional British portraiture. I call upon anecdotal references to portray scenes that are occasionally quasi surrealist representations; confronting lingering ethnocentrisms that are still embedded within modern western society.

I employ delicate mark making techniques with precise strokes of the everyday ballpoint pen. This process is influenced by sketches from the high renaissance. I meticulously build layers of tonality leading to an element of photorealism. Through an almost contradictory process of using this relatively modern art medium with a classical approach to mark making: I look to celebrate authentic drawing within the digital age.

At the core of my practice, I depict motifs that contradict largely accepted revisionist narratives apropos to West African Histories. The portraits investigate how identity can be constructed by historical oppression, with semblances of antiquated ideologies at the root of nuanced prejudices that I have personally experienced. Ultimately, my work looks to embolden individuals that feel as though they have been labelled as the ‘other’ in any manifestation.