Damascus, November 2024 – The National Museum of Damascus is hosting the highly anticipated retrospective exhibition, “Sara Shamma: Echoes of 12 Years”, a monumental showcase of one of Syria’s most internationally recognized artists. The exhibition will run from 17 November 2024, to 31 January 2025, offering an immersive experience that captures 12 years of Shamma’s artistic journey since her departure from Syria during the war.
This powerful exhibition features 27 large-scale works, spanning Shamma’s time in Lebanon and the United Kingdom, and is curated by Royal Academician David Mach. It brings home the creations that Syrians could only admire from afar while the artist exhibited globally throughout the war. "This is not just a retrospective; it’s a return," says Shamma. "in the past 12 years, I decided to keep one or two paintings from each project, to exhibit them all in Syria when the time was right. Now, it’s time for them to come home."
A hallmark of the exhibition is its thematic and chronological arrangement, allowing viewers to trace Shamma’s transformation through deeply emotional, philosophical, and psychological realms. The exhibition also includes a new and exciting VR experience, “Inside the Mind of Sara Shamma,” which provides a cutting-edge, immersive exploration into the artist’s world.
David Mach RA, known for his large-scale, dynamic installations, was immediately captivated by Shamma’s work. “Her paintings hit you full in the face,” he describes. “We don’t sit in front of paintings for hours, not in the way we watch films or TV. We don’t pick up a painting the way we pick up our book and read from where we left off but Sara’s work stays with you in both of those ways.” He adds “Sara delivers something ‘live‘ to us. That’s an incredible thing. Most art doesn’t do that. Once it’s been made, collected, sits in a museum, appears on a gallery wall it loses something. Sara’s work doesn’t do that. It doesn’t become just history; it lives on and it takes you with it.”
Sara Shamma’s career spans three decades, during which she has exhibited in prestigious museums and institutions across Europe, the Arab world, and the UK. In 2016, she relocated to London on an Exceptional Talent Visa, where she has since become an important presence in the British art scene. Despite her international success, Shamma’s connection to Syria remains unwavering. She has continued to visit her homeland frequently, working from her Damascus studio and engaging with the Syrian art community.
The exhibition promises to be a significant art event in Syria, featuring works that have captivated audiences around the world, finally on display for the people of Syria. It offers a unique opportunity to experience the depth of Sara Shamma’s vision and her remarkable artistic journey.

Exhibition Information
Dates: 17 November 2024 – 31 January 2025
Location: National Museum of Damascus, Newly Renovated Wing
Featured Works: 27 Large-Scale Paintings + VR Experience “Inside the Mind of Sara Shamma”
Curator: David Mach RA

For press inquiries or more information, please contact:
[info@sarashamma.art]
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