ISMAT MAHMASSANI

Cluster Photography & Print Exhibitor | 2025

 
 

FORGOTTEN HOUSE

 

Born in Beirut in 1974, Ismat Mahmassani has spent most of her life abroad, living in Saudi Arabia, Paris, London, and Dubai. She returned to Lebanon in 2018 and decided to follow her passion. Despite an education in Law and Human Rights, she became a self-taught photographer. Her aim today is to document and share her feelings and thoughts through what she calls narrative and poetic photography.

The natural world and architecture are a profound source of inspiration for Ismat. The resilience of plants growing through cracks in concrete or flowers blooming in forgotten corners serves as a reminder of the quiet strength inherent in life, even in the face of neglect. By blending these elements with human moments and abandoned places, the images she creates invite the viewer to pause, reflect, and find beauty in what is often unseen or overlooked.

 
 
 

Her signature style and technique involve overlaying flowers and elements of nature onto buildings, houses, and other hidden treasures—transforming them into visual stories that need to be seen and heard.

She has exhibited in Dubai, London, and Beirut, participated in numerous group exhibitions, and explored commissioned work.

THE BLUE SHUTTERS

 
 
 
Visual artist working in photography and moving images.

As a narrative photographer, I find inspiration in both the quiet, often overlooked spaces of the world—abandoned houses, forgotten rooms, and neglected structures—as well as the fleeting, intimate moments shared by people. Whether capturing a silent, desolate corner or a powerful human connection, my work seeks to breathe new life into these subjects, weaving a narrative of healing, survival, and resilience.
— Ismat Mahmassani

JASMINE OF MINE

 

DIPTYCH

CAR SERIES II

 
My creative process is deeply rooted in the language of poetry and literature. I am drawn to the emotional depth found in written words, and it is these words—whether a quote, a poem, or a passage from a novel—that guide my visual explorations. In my photographs, I use layering techniques to fuse elements of nature, such as flowers, trees, and organic textures, into both abandoned spaces and the portraits of people I capture. The juxtaposition of life and stillness creates a dynamic visual narrative where each moment—whether of a person, a place, or an interaction—becomes more than just a fleeting instance. They evolve into symbols of healing, connection, and survival.
— Ismat Mahmassani

CAR SERIES I

 
 
 

BLOOM

 
I print my photographs on high-quality fine art paper, ensuring that the texture and depth of each image are preserved with the utmost clarity. Through this process, I hope to provoke thought on themes of impermanence, transformation, and the power of nature to heal. My photographs are not just images of people, places, or moments; they are visual stories of survival, connection, and the ways in which time, nature, and memory intertwine.
— Ismat Mahmassani
 
 
 

MARY

CAR SERIES III

 
 

ARTWORK TO PURCHASE AVAILABLE SOON

MARIAM IN THE CEDARS OF GOD

 
 
 

RUST & FLOWERS

RECREATING

 
 

SECRET STORIES

 

THE KEY TO FREEDOM