Over 60 Years of Art | Thank you for visiting Ali Omar Ermes

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

The Letter ‘Kaf’, 1991

Ali Omar Ermes (Libya, active London, born 1945)

Prints; screenprints

Screenprint on paper

Plate: 32 1/2 x 24 3/4 in. (82.55 x 62.87 cm); Sheet: 41 3/8 x 31 5/8 in. (105.09 x 80.33 cm)

Gift of Irène Momtaz and Shahbaz Afridi in memory of Mozaffar and Farokh Momtaz (M.2006.131)

Islamic Art

Not currently on public view

Curator Notes

Writing in Arabic is not only a consistent and powerful theme in classical Islamic art but it also resonates with contemporary artists as both an art form and an expression of their cultural or religious identity. In his work, Ermes focuses on a single letter, here a kaf (K). The bold, black letter dramatically offset against the light paper recalls the black inscriptions on a white ground that characterize tenth-century Islamic ceramic wares.

Also in NEWS

Tributes paid to leading Arab artist, Ali Omar Ermes

Renowned British Libyan artist and calligrapher Ali Omar Ermes has died aged 76. Born in 1945, in the Libyan city of Zliten, Ermes studied at the University of Plymouth in the UK. He returned to Libya after graduating in 1970, but later moved to London, where he completed a master’s degree at what later became Central Saint Martins.

Continue Reading →

Ali Omar Ermes’ Recent Works to Be Exhibited at Meem Gallery - 10 DECEMBER 2010 - 27 JANUARY 2011

Meem Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of an exhibition of the recent work of Ali Omar Ermes this December. Ali Omar, who is internationally renowned for his beautiful paintings based on Arabic literature and letterforms, exhibited his work at Meem in 2007 and we are delighted to present his second solo show at the gallery this winter. The artist will be in attendance during the opening.

Continue Reading →

The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art exhibiting a Ali Omar Ermes artwork

The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is the only national museum in the US dedicated to the collection of the arts of Africa. On exhibit are the finest examples of traditional and contemporary art from the continent of Africa including Ghana Amer and Ali Omar Ermes

Continue Reading →