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Syrian artist Abdulrahman Naanseh learned Arabic calligraphy with the support of his father, a self-taught calligrapher. Naanseh has excelled in this field with exhibitions at the Arneli Art Gallery during the Beit Misk Festival in Beirut, murals at Damascus University, solo exhibitions in Syria in 2002 and 2005, and recent solo exhibits at Mason Exhibitions Arlington, the Gillespie Gallery of Art, and Fenwick Gallery at GMU.

 Naanseh is an Artist Protection Fund Fellow and the 2022 Artist-in-Residence at George Mason University’s School of Art. The Artist Protection Fund(APF) fills a critical unmet need by awarding threatened artists and placing them at welcoming host institutions in safe countries where they can continue their work and plan for their futures. APF places these artists in safe havens for a full year and provides fellowship funding, mentoring, and inclusion in a comprehensive network of artistic and social support. Naanseh is currently an Adjunct Professor teaching Drawing and Arabic Calligraphy courses at George Mason University’s School of Art.