When I grow up I want to be (Posted by 'The Flavor of Beirut' under Arts by Yasmine Chatila Monday 10, April 2006)

Who? Sally Khoury, painter
Where? Blush. Achrafieh, Monnot Street
When? Currently
When I grow up I want to be an actress.” As a child, Sally Khoury dreamt of seeing her face projected on the big screen. Today the 24 years old Lebanese erects the faces of her characters across the canvas of her paintings.

Graduating from the Lebanese American University with a degree in Fine Arts less than two years ago, Sally has already exhibited her work in various spaces in Lebanon. Her large canvases of women's portraits have graced walls from cafés to museums. Currently exhibiting a slide show of her work in Blush, Sally feels that her entry into the “pop-culture” art arena was smooth and fast; an experience that most young artists today cannot share.

The all-female cast of characters emerging from Sally's workshop is diverse in style, her older work marked with a hint of mango flavor and newer pieces hitting the viewer with an explosion of colors. Nevertheless, all her women have a characteristic in common. They exude confidence; they are bold, beautiful and sensual. I paint what I know; since I am a woman I paint women.”
Having grown up in the Arab world and seeing the differential treatment of men and women, Sally wants her paintings to reflect an empowerment of women. The females have the power, it is in their hands. She says with a delighted expression in her eyes.

Albeit her emerging career in Lebanon; this young artist plans on earning a Masters Degree abroad. She believes in the exploration and evolution of her art. Although she has found a style that works for her now, it can always change. Sally's advice for painters: Keep painting!”

Is painting just random colors on canvas? Is it passion, love, talent…?

Well, it is all that and more. It's an attitude, it's a free zone for expression, and to Sally it's a way of marking her vision and bringing it to life. Bold scenes from the new generation and its glamorous societies lure your eyes and infatuate you by the ingenious blend of realistic and abstract images. Her concepts carry feminist declarations where women puffed up with vanity stand tall in their nakedness. You can actually see them eyeing you as if making a stand against conventional persona of naked women in portraits, where they are usually a week, humble and ashamed of their nakedness. With her artistic approach, Sally liberates women into a world of beauty, sexiness, pride, power, and independence. This ambitious artist focuses on the concept of each artwork but at the same time brings out the colors and textures that would perfectly fit and liven up its ambiance. No wonder they were exhibited in several renowned locations like Zinc, Lina’s café, Tribeca and Art Lounge. From glamour girls to vodka girls, Sally’s work is based on developing glamour through vivid effects and impressive portraits of women with a dash of exaggeration and sophistication.