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I was Born in Alexandria, Egypt and lived in Europe ( Italy) and the Middle East. After my Arrival in the USA in 1980, my first paintings were inspired by my education in Interior Design and Architecture and my taste for enigmatic, colorful images.
Since 1981, I have been involved with many galleries, countless art exhibits in the New England area and a constant research into the creative side of painting.
In 2006 and 2008 I received awards from the Currier Museum of Art for my figurative paintings.
In 2011 I became a member of the Copley Society of Boston.
I also had short appearances in Museums( the Currier Museum and the Whistler Art Museum) and gave many Talks and Demos about the process of Art in libraries, Museums and Associations.
Although I started with Landscapes and painted hundreds of them, my personal preferences lead me to a different style, born from the Art imagery I came in contact with throughout the years.
Influenced by Medieval, Russian, Oriental, Indian and Persian Art, I noticed that I could visualize my secret world with different applications of paint, not following the usual trends of Art, common in the many art galleries I was visiting.
To get there, I experimented with different medias, going from watercolors in 1980 to gouache, then acrylic gouache, acrylics, oils, casein and egg tempera. The painting surfaces were carefully tried, starting with a variety of papers, leading to different wood boards and canvases. Anything different I used would create new visual effects and results.
In the past year, instead of starting with the traditional drawing media, then application of paint, I reversed the process going from total abstract surface to the birth of imagery and shapes!
This allowed me to be more creative .
When I was younger, I was trained to be an architect, but still my inclination went to painting. These six years in college spent drafting and drawing, had a big influence in my future paintings, helping my
desire to create new shapes and unusual compositions.
Of course, back then I did not know which tools I needed to get where I wanted.
This is why I don't believe in the artist's myth of being inspired.
Inspiration for me is the daily toil with medias, papers, paints, and new ideas.
It is sweat, despair, obsession and dissatisfaction.
It is always doubting myself and trying to do it again and better.
In the past, If I wanted to paint a subject, I would repaint it at least 10 times.
I still own the various stages of the same design, some unfinished or discarded.
With time, better skills and experience in materials, I could finish my work in easier steps.
So this is how I define the process of painting:
It is the lobotomy of the brain, trying to get rid of old representational images of how the world should look.
It is Always redefining and renew oneself,
surprised by new discoveries.
It is the Birth of our subconscious dreams for everybody to see and enjoy!
Memberships and Galleries
Copley society of Arts, Boston( 2011-present), Copley Signature artist
Twist Gallery. Lexington, MA
NH Art Association, Portsmouth,(1982-present)
Nashua Area Art Association(1981-present)
(President of NAAA since 2021)
Red Raven gallery, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
Art 3 Gallery, Manchester, NH
Periwinkle gallery, Groton, MA
Great Living gallery, Seabrook, NH
Bowersock gallery( 2015-2023) Provincetown.
Portsmouth Historical Society Bookstore and gallery
Rockport Art Association and Museum juried member
The ARTHUB, Nashua, NH
Concord MA, Art Association
Demos
Demo at Rivier College. Nashua, NH
The Creation of Art. Whistler House Museum of Art. August 1998
Talk at Lunch with the Artist, Whistler House Museum of Art. March 2000
Demo at the Chelmsford Art Society. April 26, 2005
Demo and talk at Chandler library, NAAA. June 2005
Demo at the Copley society of Boston. December 2014
Demo at the Lexington Grace gallery. January 2015
Demo at the Hollis Art Society. April 2015
Demo at the Merrimack Valley art society. June 2015
Demo in Boston at the Copley Art Society. Summer 2015
Demo at the Salem Art Association, NH. November 2016
Demo at the Chelmsford Art Association. September 2017
Demo at the Nashua Area Art Association, February 2020
Talk at Red Raven Gallery in Lancaster, PA 2022
Nashua Area Artists Association Demo, October
Private invitational
Exhibits
Red Raven Gallery, Solo Exhibit. June 2026
Red Raven Art Gallery, invitational exhibit, Lancaster, PA.
March 2025
Red Raven Art Gallery, Solo exhibit, Lancaster, PA. February 2024
Solo Exhibit, “Portraits”, Red Raven Gallery, Lancaster, PA. June 2022
“Past life Reflections”,
April 2022 Solo Exhibit at the Conant gallery, Groton, MA
“Little in Common, 2 artists, 1 show, all beauty”, Bowersock Gallery, 2019
"Sawaf's art", Bowesock gallery, Provincetown. June 2017
"All about Madeline", Governor's Academy, Wilkie Center, Byfield, MA. December-January 2014-15
Featured artist at 100 Market street. First prize. Portsmouth, 2014
Solo Exhibit at Maison de L'Art, Nashua, NH. 2012
"Art in Bloom", 263 Art Gallery, Nashua, NH. 2011
"Mysterious Reflections”, NH Antique Coop, Milford, NH. 2010
Nashua Public library solo exhibit. July-August. 2009
"Between the lines”, Three Graces Gallery, Portsmouth, NH. April 2009
Art Exhibit at Maison de L'Art ,Nashua, NH. 2007
Solo Exhibit at Nashua Public Library. 2006
"Marilene Sawaf and Jean Hua Dalia", Gallery One, Nashua. 2006
"Paintings by Marilene Sawaf", Bilancia Gallery, Nashua. 2005
“Marilene Sawaf" at Bilancia Gallery, Nashua, NH. 2005
"Paintings by Marilene Sawaf", Bilancia Gallery, Nashua. 2004
“Marilene Sawaf," Three Graces Gallery, Portsmouth, NH. 2004
"Women, Music and Dreams”, Chelmsford Library. 2003
"Medieval Women”, Stevens Library, North Andover, MA. 2002
"Women and Landscapes”, Hollis, NH. 2002
"Painting of ladies", Sharon Art center at Borders, Nashua. 1999
"Vision of women", Nashua Public Library. 1998
"Landscapes" at the Design Center, Hollis, NH. 1994
"Memorial Hall Library. Andover, MA.1985
Collective Exhibits 2015 to 2026
2026
NAAA exhibit", Pepperell public library, Pepperell, MA
" ALL MEMBERS JURIED EXHIBIT" Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
"SMALL AND BIG" Exhibit, RLLG Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
40TH LASSONDE Juried EXHIBIT, RLLG gallery,PORTSMOUTH, NH
"CURRENTS" JURIED EXHIBIT, (May-October)
PORTSMOUTH HISTORICAL CENTER and Museum
"Spring Exhibit", ARTHUB, Nashua, NH
"Spring Exhibit", Rockport juried members exhibit
SUE WERNER THORESEN JURIED Exhibit, RLLG Gallery. Portsmouth
Copley Society of ART, "LOOKING UP", Exhibition Boston.MA
Copley Society of ART "Intersections", National Juried Exhibit, Boston, MA(July 26)
Rockport Art Society, Juried Members First, Second and Third Summer Exhibits
Red Raven Art Company, three artists invitational Exhibit with Talk with the ARTIST( June 26)
Lancaster, PA
Greeley park ART Exhibit, First Prize and Best of Show.
Copley Society of Art juried exhibit, "Fantastical Realities"{September),Boston, MA
Third Prize
"In Tandem" Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
NH Art Association, "Nostalgia", Portsmouth, NH
"FALL" ArtHub, Nashua, NH
Concord Art Association, 27th Roddy juried Exhibit, Concord, MA
"Fall Exhibit", ArtHub gallery , Nashua, NH
Fall Exhibit, Rockport Art Association, juried members
"Nostalgia", NHAA Portsmouth Exhibit, RLLG gallery
"Voyages" NH AA Portsmouth Exhibit, RLLG gallery
(2025)
Red Raven Art gallery, unframed work exhibit,
Lancaster, PA (March,2025)
"Momentum", Small work. Copley Society of Art, Boston
RAM juried Artists, Spring show, Rockport, MA
RAM" Small work exhibit", Rockport, MA
39th Annual Lassonde Juried show, RLLG gallery, Portsmouth, NH
"Currents", Portsmouth Historical Society juried Exhibit,(May-October"
"In Bloom", ArtHub gallery, Nashua, NH
First, Second( juried), Third and Fall Exhibits of juried Artists at the Rockport Art Association
Sheafe Gallery Summer Exhibit, Portsmouth, NH
"In Tandem", Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
Holidays Exhibit, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
Holiday exhibit, Levy gallery, Portsmouth, NH
Holiday Exhibit, Red raven Art Gallery, Lancaster, PA
Holiday Exhibit, ARTHUB, Nashua, NH
Illuminations, Twist gallery, Lexington, MA
2024
Nashua Library Art Exhibit, Nashua NH
Nashua Mall Art Exhibit
Nashua Marriott Hotel Art Exhibit
Red Raven Art Gallery, Solo exhibit, Lancaster,PA
“Glow”, Copley Society of Art, Small work, Boston, MA
“Amuse Bouche”, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
38th Annual Lassonde Juried show, RLLG gallery,Portsmouth, NH
"Matter of Memory", with NHAA,
Portsmouth Historical Society,People Award
"Respite", Copley Society of Boston, Small work
"Entwined", visual and textual narratives,
Mosesian Center for the Arts, Watertown, MA
"Lyrical", Gallery Twist, Lexington, MA
"Creme De La Creme", Art Center, Dover, NH
"Lush", RLLG gallery, Portsmouth, NH
Sheafe Whearehouse Exhibit, Summer of 24, Portsmouth, NH
"Flaunt", RLLG gallery, Portsmouth, NH
Works on Paper" juried Exhibit, RLLG gallery, Portsmouth
"Fresh", gallery Twist, Lexington, MA
"Alchemy", RLLG gallery, Portsmouth, NH
Greeley park Art show, First prize in Mix Media
"Abundance", Copley Society of Art juried exhibit, October 2024,Boston
Rockport New Members Exhibition, November 24, Rockport, MA
Copley Society of Art, Holiday Exhibit,Boston
NHAA Holiday Exhibit, Portsmouth, NH
2023
Cityscape, Grace Art gallery, Lexington. MA
Small Work, Symphony, Boston, MA
37th Annual Lassonde Juried show, RLLG gallery,Portsmouth, NH
Women Artists invitational exhibit, Red Raven Art Gallery, Lancaster, PA
Small Work, On the Horizon, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
Dark and Light, RLLG gallery, Portsmouth, NH
"23d Dunfey juried Exhibit", Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
Red Raven gallery Christmas exhibit, Lancaster, PA
Holidays small work, Copley society, Boston, MA
Illumination, Twist gallery, Lexington, MA
Christmas Exhibit, RR Levy gallery, Portsmouth, NH
2022
Emergence, Copley society, Boston, MA
One person exhibit, Lawrence Academy, Groton, MA. April 2022
One person exhibit, Red Raven Gallery, Lancaster, PA, June 2022
Copley Summer Members show, “Horizons” Third Prize, Boston
Encounter New England, Copley society, Boston, MA
36th Annual Lassonde Juried show, RLLG gallery,Portsmouth, NH
“Bienvenue”RLLG gallery,
23d Dunfey Memorial Juried show RLLG, Portsmouth, NH
RLL gallery Christmas show, Portsmouth, NH
Red Raven gallery Christmas exhibit, Lancaster, PA
Holidays small show, Copley society, Boston, MA
Holidays, Grace chapel Art GAllery, Lexington, MA
2021
"Tapestry", Copley Society of Art, Boston, Ma
35th Annual Omer T. Lassonde juried Exhibit,Portsmouth, NH
"Travels Near and Far"
"Shake it UP", Copley Gallery, Boston, Ma
"Pairings", Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
"Big paintings", Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
"On the Bright Side", Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
"Colors of Summer", Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
"A beautiful View", Levy gallery, Portsmouth, NH
St Joseph Hospital Art Exhibit, Spring, Nashua, NH
"Portals" Juried Exhibit, ARTHUB Gallery, Nashua, NH First Prize
"August Morning", Copley gallery, Boston, Ma
"Who we are" Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
"Looking UP"Invitational Exhibit, Gallery Twist, Lexington, Ma
Greeley Park Show, First prize in Mix Media.
"Circle of Life", Levy gallery, Portsmouth, NH
"Autumn Aura", Copley Gallery, Boston,MA
"Face my Fears" exhibit. Union Street gallery, Chicago, ILL
"Light and Dark", Levy gallery, Portsmouth, NH
"22d Dunfey juried Exhibit", Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
"Portals"
St Joseph Hospital Fall collective Exhibit, Nashua, NH
"Holiday Small Work", Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
2020
Copley Society of Art, “August Morning”, Boston, MA.
34th Annual Omer T. Lassonde juried Exhibit, “Travel Near and Far”, Portsmouth, NH
Copley Society of Art, “Autumn aura”, Boston, MA
NH Art Association, “October Plein Air Exhibit”, Portsmouth, NH
80th Anniversary Silent Auction, Levy gallery, Portsmouth, NH
“21th Joan Dunfey Memorial Juried Exhibit”, Portsmouth, NH
"Intrinsic Moments"
Copley Holiday Small work exhibit, Boston, MA
“Illumination”, Twist Gallery, Lexington, MA
2019
“Illumination”, Twist Gallery, Lexington, MA
“Shake it up”, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
“Up Close and Personal”, Juried Exhibit, ArtHub gallery, Nashua, NH
“33th Omer. T Lassonde” juried Exhibit, Portsmouth, NH
“Currents”, Levy gallery, Portsmouth,NH
“Fresh paint”, Copley Society of Art, Boston,MA
“August Morning”, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
“Thrive”, Twist gallery, Lexington, MA
Bowersock gallery, “Little in Common, 2 artists, 1 show, all beauty”, Provincetown, MA
“Drawings”, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
2018
“About time”, Twist gallery, Lexington, MA
“Buzz”, Twist gallery, Lexington, MA
“Illumination”,Twist gallery, Lexington, Ma
“Small journey”, Copley society of Art, Boston, MA
“Ports of Call”, Copley society of Art, Boston, MA
“In full color”, Copley society of Art, Boston, MA
“Holiday small work”, Copley society of Art, Boston, MA
“Community”, ArtHub juried Exhibit, Nashua, NH
“32th OmarT Lassonde juried Exhibit, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
2017
“Shake it up”, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
“All about the Theatre”, 100 Market street, Portsmouth, NH.
"Florals", Grace Gallery, Lexington, Mass.
"To live free or die”, 31th Omar T Lassonde juried Exhibit, Levy gallery, Portsmouth, NH
"Buzz", Gallery Blink, Lexington, MA.
Solo exhibit at Bowersock gallery in Provincetown, MA
“August Morning”, Copley society of Art, Boston, MA
100 Market street summer show, Portsmouth, NH.
"Nature's view", Levy gallery, Portsmouth, NH.
“Autumn Aura”, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
“18th Annual Dunfey Juried Exhibit”, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
"Portrait in the Now", juried exhibit, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA.
"Illumination", Gallery Blink, Lexington, MA.
“International Art Show”, Parish Center for the Arts, Westford, MA.
“Xmas show” ArtHub gallery, Nashua, NH
2016
“A sense of place”, Grace Gallery, Lexington, MA
“Winter Promise”, Gallery Blink, Lexington, MA
" Chill out", Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
" Valentine art show", Art Hub gallery, Nashua, NH
” Polaris”, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
"Winter show", Gallery Blink, Lexington, MA
“100 Market Street Winter Exhibit”, Portsmouth, NH
“30th Lassonde Juried Exhibit”, Levy Gallery. First place Award. Portsmouth
“Fresh Paint”, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
“Solar”, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
“100 Market street gallery”, Summer juried exhibit, Portsmouth, NH
Prescott Park Juried Exhibit, Sheafe Wearehouse, Portsmouth, NH
“17th Annual Dunfey Memorial Juried show”, Portsmouth, NH
"Change out”,Copley Society of Art. Boston
“ Holiday Small work”, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
100 Market street gallery, “Juried Fall Exhibit”, Portsmouth, NH
"Musicology", Gallery Blink, Lexington, MA
100 Market street “ Xmas exhibit”, Portsmouth, NH
Whistler House Museum of Art, “Holiday juried exhibit”, Lowell, MA
“RED”, Grace Gallery. Lexington, MA
2015
“Polaris", Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
Nashua Public library exhibit with the Nashua Art Association
"Inspired", Juried Exhibit, Grace gallery, Lexington, MA
"29th Lassonde Juried Exhibit, Levy gallery, Portsmouth, NH
"Colors", Art 3 gallery, Manchester, NH
"Solar", Small gallery, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
"As Expected", Summer juried show, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
"Change up", Small work gallery, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
Greeley park art show, First place in Oils, Nashua, NH
Prescott park Juried show, Portsmouth, NH( summer 2015)
"Connections", Blink Art Gallery, Lexington, MA
Copley of Boston, Holiday show, Boston, MA
Whistler House Museum Holiday Exhibit, Lowell, MA
Grace Gallery, "Shiny", juried Exhibit, Lexington, MA
Dunfey Memorial, Juried Exhibit, Portsmouth, NH
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