Login
Ma'ala-2005-recJqGEWjyt0joomo
Close-Up Abstract Human Face - shown to scale
Talal Ma'ala

Close-Up Abstract Human Face, 2005

Estimated price$2,961 – $5,499

Oil on Canvas

67 × 58 cm | 26.4 × 22.8 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.
Request this piece
About the price estimate

The price shown is an estimated range based on the work's medium, year, edition status, and current market context. It is not the final sale price.

Once you submit an inquiry, an Artsamy specialist will confirm the exact price for this piece alongside shipping, insurance, and any other costs. The final figure may fall within the estimate, slightly below for first-time buyers or aged listings, or occasionally above for highly contested works.

If you believe the estimated range is inaccurate, or you'd like to discuss the valuation directly, contact us and a specialist will respond within six hours during business days.

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.

Duties & taxes are excluded from the price. International buyers are responsible for any customs fees on arrival. Full export documentation provided.

Works leaving Jordan require an export clearance certificate, arranged on your behalf.

Need a quote first? Contact us with your delivery city.

The Artsamy guarantee
  • Secure checkout. Payments are encrypted and processed by Shopify Payments.
  • Authenticity guaranteed. Every artwork ships with a signed Certificate of Authenticity, verified by the artist or their estate.
  • Money-back guarantee. 14-day return window if the artwork doesn't match its listing or arrives damaged in transit.
  • Learn more about the Artsamy guarantee →

About the work

A raw and intensely expressive close-up of a human face fills the entire canvas, rendered in sweeping brushstrokes of deep red, earthy brown, and vivid blue. The fragmented features — downcast eyes, a broad nose, and sealed lips — convey a brooding, mask-like solemnity.

Talal Ma'ala (Syria, 1952–present).

Oil on Canvas, 58 × 67 cm, 2005.

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

Medium
Size
67 × 58 cm | 26.4 × 22.8 in
Year
2005
Rarity
Unique
Certificate of authenticity
Included
Genre
Colours
Red, Brown, Blue
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

Oil

Pigment bound in oil, prized for its depth, luminosity, and slow drying that lets artists blend and build rich layers. The most enduring medium of modern painting, it remains central to the work of the region's leading modernists.
View more oil artworks

Expressionism

Art that prioritizes emotion and inner experience over realistic depiction, using distortion, bold color, and energetic mark-making. In the region it gave modern artists a language for memory, displacement, and identity.
View more expressionism artworks