The Gallery at the Marmara Manhattan

Located in the lobby of The Marmara Manhattan, this impressive gallery space is a highlight of both the property and the neighborhood. The light-filled room has become a forum for both established and up-and-coming artists from the local and international art scenes. The Marmara Manhattan provides free public access to the gallery, open every day between 11am - 7 pm.

SOHEIR KHASHOGGI Mirage Curated by Zishan Ugurlu Ph.D

April 10, 2008 - May 8, 2008

Opening Thrusday, April 10th
6pm - 8pm

The works of acclaimed international artist and best-selling author, Soheir Khashoggi, will be on exhibit from April 10 - May 4 at the Marmara Gallery. The gallery, located in the Marmara Hotel & Residence at Second Avenue and 94th Street, is open to the public daily from 11 am - 7 pm. Admission is free.

This extraordinary solo exhibit, Mirage, will be launched at a reception on April 10 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. The artist will be on hand to discuss both her artistic and literary works and to sign copies of her three novels, which have been published in the US, and translated into 37 languages.

Soheir Khashoggi's mystical art work has deep roots in the Middle East where the artist grew up, the daughter of one of Saudi Arabia's most prominent and respected families. She is internationally known for her enigmatic, evocative, nostalgic and mysteriously detailed portrayals of women, in search of the unknown in graceful solitude.

Her distinctive style provides a kaleidoscopic view of female beauty, intellect and spirit. These elements are depicted in glamorous and startling colors as in her three novels: Mosaic, Mirage and Nadia's Song. Her brilliance as an artist and author manifests itself with languidly seductive, dark and yet poetic images. Working with watercolors, oils and acrylic, she creates a land of dazzling light and color. These brilliant works are exhibited in galleries around the world and in the homes of prominent collectors.

About the Artist

Soheir Khashoggi was born in Alexandria, Egypt, a member of one of Saudi Arabia's most prominent families. By the age of 14, she was an accomplished artist. Lauded for her literary as well as artistic talent, she continued to win many prizes for her short stories, drawings and paintings, during her teen years.

She attended college at San Jose State in California before relocating to Beirut, Lebanon where she continued her studies at the American University of Beirut. She then completed her degree in art and design. She had her first show in Beirut Lebanon at the age of 20.

Soheir's favorite memories are from her childhood in Egypt, and images of wind, sand, sea and exotic flowers, inform her exceptional novels. Mirage, published in 1996 in the US, is a magnificent saga of the loves and losses of three generations of women. Mirage lifts the veil of secrecy to expose the real lives of women in today's harem and takes the reader into the hidden world of the Middle Eastern aristocracy.

     

Her second novel Mosaic, published 2002 in the US and other countries, is a compelling story of love, loss, friendship, and strength. It weaves together diverse cultures and illuminates the difference between the roles of men and women from the East and West.

Soheir's third novel, Nadia's Song, debuted in 2005. It is set in the US and other countries, spanning five decades of turbulent Middle Eastern history, from World War II to the first Gulf War. The novel is a moving saga of mothers and daughters and the unbreakable bond between them.

For additional information about Soheir Khashoggi, access her website at www.SoheirKhashoggi.com.

Note to Editors

• High-resolution images are available upon request.
• The artist is available for interviews by appointment.