Alnassar
The Shape of Impermanence: Tracing Change Through Stone and Gesture​
For Alnassar, sculpture is a dialogue with time; where enduring stone meets the constant flow of change
Alnassar’s work embodies the tension between permanence and transformation. Sculpting primarily in marble, he harnesses the enduring nature of stone to express life’s most impermanent truths. His monumental forms often carry echoes of the human figure and symbolic abstraction, capturing fleeting moments of emotion, transition, and memory in timeless material. Drawing from his roots in Syria and his deep connection to the marble quarries of Carrara, his practice bridges cultural narratives and elemental forces. Whether through graceful torsion or minimal gestures of form, Alnassar carves a visual language that speaks to change as a universal constant—reminding us that even in stone, nothing stays the same.
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BIO
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Born in Syria in 1971, Usama Alnassar is a sculptor and painter whose artistic journey bridges cultural heritage and contemporary practice. After graduating from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus in 1997, he pursued further studies at the prestigious Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara in Italy, specializing in sculpture.
Alnassar has exhibited extensively across Europe, the Middle East, and Australia, with solo and group shows in institutions such as the Museo del Marmo in Carrara, the National Museum in Damascus, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Italy, and the Artscape Biennale in Australia. He has also participated in numerous international symposia, and his works are held in both public and private collections.
Currently based in Carrara, Alnassar has established a sculpture park and marble amphitheater near the region’s historic quarries. His work combines figurative and abstract elements to explore transformation, memory, and the enduring power of material. In addition to his studio practice, he teaches sculpture and marble carving to students from around the world.
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PUBLICATIONS ​
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Usama Alnassar’s work and philosophy have been spotlighted in international platforms such as Materially Speaking, where he reflects on his upbringing in Syria, his artistic lineage, and the creation of his marble amphitheater in Carrara. His open-air studio was also featured in IGNANT, through a photographic essay by Angela Simi that captures the serenity and sculptural energy of his process within the iconic marble landscape of the Apuan Alps. Additionally, Sculpture Club Journal published a two-part interview detailing his views on sculpture education, resilience, and the evolving role of art in times of global transition.
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SCULPTING TIME AND TRANSFORMATION​
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