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Ma'ala-2004-recFP4EMza1CgrvQj
Abstract Figure Head in Profile - shown to scale
Talal Ma'ala

Abstract Figure Head in Profile, 2004

Estimated price$1,484 – $2,756

Pastel on Paper

50 × 40 cm | 19.7 × 15.7 in

Certificate of Authenticity

A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is a signed document verifying that this artwork is the genuine work of the named artist. For pieces from the Hindiyeh Collection, the COA is signed by the collection. For gallery- or artist-direct pieces, it is issued by the gallery or by the artist's authorized estate.

The COA includes the artist's name, the title, year, medium, and dimensions of the work, and is delivered with the artwork at the time of dispatch.

Rarity classifications

Unique
A one-of-a-kind work. No other version of this piece exists.

Limited edition
The artist or their estate produced a known, finite number of copies. The edition size is shown in the work's details.

Open edition
The edition run is ongoing. New works may still be produced in the same series, which may be numbered or made to order.

Unknown edition
The edition has ended, but the number originally produced is no longer documented.
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Shipping & taxes

Ships from Amman, Jordan. Hand-packed in a custom crate or rigid art-tube depending on medium and size.

Delivery (after handling): 5–10 business days within MENA, 10–18 to Europe and North America, 14–25 elsewhere. Larger or framed works ship via fine-art freight; timing confirmed by email after purchase.

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About the work

A fragmented human head rendered in profile emerges from a grey ground, its features dissolved into sweeping black lines and angular planes. The work carries a quiet intensity, blending figurative suggestion with a cubist dissolution of form.

Talal Ma'ala (Syria, 1952–present).

Pastel on Paper, 40 × 50 cm, 2004.

Part of the permanent collection of the Hindiyeh Museum of Arts, Jordan. One of a kind.

Medium
Size
50 × 40 cm | 19.7 × 15.7 in
Year
2004
Rarity
Unique
Certificate of authenticity
Included
Genre
Colours
Black and White, Grey
Location
Amman, Jordan

About the artist

Talal Ma'ala — Mixed media On Canvas, 118 × 118 cm (representative image)
Talal Ma'ala

Syria, b. 1952

Talal Ma'ala (طلال معلا), born in 1952 in Syria, is a prominent Syrian artist and art critic known for his significant contributions to contemporary Arab art. Ma'ala’s practice spans painting, installation, and conceptual art, often exploring themes of identity, memory, and the socio-political landscape of the Arab world. His work is characterized by a thoughtful engagement with both traditional and modernist aesthetics, frequently incorporating mixed media and experimental forms.

Ma'ala has exhibited widely in the Middle East and internationally, with notable institutional exhibitions including shows at the Sharjah Art Museum and participation in the Cairo Biennale. His works have been featured in major group exhibitions that highlight the evolution of Syrian and Arab art, and he is recognized for his role in curating and writing about contemporary art movements in the region. While his presence at major international auction houses such as Christie’s, Sotheby’s, or Bonhams has not been prominently documented, his influence is evident through his curatorial projects and critical writings, which have shaped discourse on Syrian art both regionally and abroad.

As an influential figure in the Syrian art scene, Talal Ma'ala continues to contribute as both an artist and a critic, fostering dialogue and innovation within contemporary Arab art. His career reflects a dedication to exploring the complexities of cultural identity and artistic expression in a rapidly changing world.

View all works by Talal Ma'ala

Pastel

Pure pigment in stick form, applied dry for soft, velvety color and luminous, chalky surfaces. Sitting between drawing and painting, it prizes immediacy, texture, and subtle blending.
View more pastel artworks

Cubism

A revolutionary early-twentieth-century approach that fractures objects into geometric planes and multiple viewpoints at once. Arab artists such as Jamil Hamoudi adapted its geometry to calligraphic and regional themes.
View more cubism artworks