May Ammoun
B. 1941, Beirut
May Ammoun studied painting with Manetti and Roger Caron in Beirut, and later attended art classes at the Academy of Art in Perugia, where she received the second prize in an international painting competition in Gubbio. She interrupted her artistic pursuits to raise her children during Lebanon's civil war. In 1996, she developed a passion for ceramics and studied glazing techniques under Helena Klug and molecular calculation classes in Paris.
May's artistic journey saw her research and experiment with glazes, leading to her first exhibition at the University of Balamand in 2010. Her works eventually became part of the permanent ceramics collection at the MACAM museum in 2013. She held her first solo exhibition at the SV gallery in 2014, presenting over forty pieces. In 2018, May showcased around fifty artworks in another solo exhibition at the Rochane gallery.
About her Work
May Ammoun approaches her art by personally preparing glazes using minerals and ashes, infusing her work with her intimate emotions. She aims to express lived moments, memories, and images through her art, capturing a variety of shapes that embody freedom. Her artworks exhibit sharp, abrupt, or rounded lines, symbolizing her continuous self-transformation. May embraces the transformative power of fire, which both intimidates and gives life to her sculptures.
Her work transcends technical constraints, showcasing her imaginative and spontaneous approach to art. May's art is a reflection of her personal journey and the profound connection between her past, present, and future aspirations.
May Ammoun
Untitled, 20--
Ceramic, 17 x 36 x 36 cm
Loan from the artist