Realism master Zad Jabbour at the Kiwi Art House Gallery

Realism master Zad Jabbour opens his first exhibition since settling in New Zealand in 2006, at the Kiwi Art House Gallery, 288 Cuba St, (near Webb St) on Friday March 11. The exhibition runs until April 3.

Zad Jabbour was born in Lebanon in 1943. His father was a well known artist and Zad started out as an apprentice. Together they worked repairing the frescos of Lebanese churches. His artistic training came from his father and a lifelong study of the techniques of the old masters.

His career as a professional artist in Lebanon painting by commission, specialising in portraiture and iconography, was interrupted by the civil war. After a bomb exploded outside his studio he decided to take his wife and son and leave. There followed a new career in Abu Dhabi where Zads's portrait painting skills were in demand by the ruling family and he became resident artist at the Al Mushref palace. He also painted murals for hotels and palaces and created portrait busts and bas relief sculpture.

Since moving to New Zealand Zad's art has a new direction and has concentrated on painting people in their daily lives, where his style of realism has found a natural home. His exhibition 'Slices of Life' looks at Wellingtonians and their favourite cafes. Fidels, Midnight Espresso, The Capitol and Plum all feature. Some of the paintings can be seen on the 'Exhibitions' page of the Kiwi Art House Gallery website www.kiwiarthouse.co.nz

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