Rifaae (Refaayi Ahmad), born in the heart of Derek in northern Syria, stood out early on for his artistic talent. His formal training at the prestigious FINE ART ACADEMY in Damascus laid the foundation for a remarkable career that soon found expression in a series of exhibitions of young Syrian artists known as Spring in 1999, 2001 and 2003. Rifaae embodies the fusion of tradition and modernity, masterfully bringing both oil and acrylic to canvas, earning him international recognition and an enthusiastic following in the art world of the Middle East and beyond.
His art has traveled a diverse landscape from Kuwait to Germany, where it has been showcased in prestigious galleries and cultural hubs. In 2010 and 2011, the artist was recognized for his excellent work by the National Museum in Damascus, a remarkable testament to his growing importance in the contemporary art scene.
Fleeing his homeland, which became unavoidable due to the difficult political situation, Rifaae moved to Austria in 2016, where he exhibited at the Amtshof für Kultur in Feldkirchen (Carinthia) and the Künstlerhaus Klagenfurt. A year later, he continued his artistic journey with the exhibition Flucht nach vorn in Vienna.
His participation in the Open Workshops at the ALBERTINA in Vienna in 2018-2019 marks another highlight in Rifaae's steady artistic rise and underlines his willingness to continue developing.
Current exhibitions at the KALIMAT ART GALLERY in Istanbul, the SYNERGY ART HUB in Riyadh, the VIOLET ART GALLERY in Kassel and the MEGA ART GALLERY in Rome testify to the international presence and recognition Rifaae enjoys today. Despite these successes, the FREE HAND ART GALLERY in Damascus, the city of his birth, remains a place of inestimable personal value, a symbol of his artistic roots and ambitions.
His vibrant work reflects a story of loss, rebirth and unwavering optimism, a varied journey from the changing landscapes of Syria to the major cultural capitals of the world.
It is with great pride that BURN-IN has been representing this extraordinary artist since September 2023, giving him a stage on which he will set another significant milestone in his career with his first solo exhibition in Vienna.