Paradigm Gallery is pleased to present Nazeer Sabree: Pursuit of Healing, as part of the grand opening of its new location in Old City at 12 N. 3rd St. Curated by Ginger Rudolph of HAHA Magazine, Sabree’s first solo exhibition reflects upon the construct and constraints of identity, both his own and that of his community. The public is invited to celebrate the opening of the gallery and its inaugural exhibitions on Friday, April 7, 2023, from 7-10 PM. Pursuit of Healing will be on view April 7–30, 2023, at the new Paradigm Arts Building. 

The exhibition will explore the process of healing from the artist’s perspective, building upon his previous work in the “False Face” series. Rudolph’s curation is informed by her intimate understanding of Sabree’s practice, having mentored the artist since 2020 in the Philadelphia Mural Arts Fellowship for Black Artists Program. In addition to an expanded body of work from “False Face”, the exhibition will premiere a new series of predominately black and white photo collages entitled “Transgenerational Rorschach Fragments 1998” (“TRF-98”), and a striking video work that tells a transformative story about Black masculinity in three acts – life, death, and rebirth.

With photographs and clippings sourced from his family’s archives and broader cultural and historical references, Sabree shares a blueprint for what healing might look like from within a Black body. Vulnerability, pain, and hope collide in Pursuit of Healing, charting an ascendent course from trauma to radical empathy.

Artwork now live HERE

PRESS
The Philadelphia Citizen
WHYY

About Nazeer Sabree
Nazeer Sabree is an emerging Black artist from Philadelphia with a unique practice that blends traditional techniques with contemporary ideas. Inspired from a young age by the artistic heritage of the city and the rich cultural scene surrounding it, Sabree has developed a distinctive style that reflects his own story of growing up in Philly. Sabree creates painted portraits and collages that explore the construct of masculinity and its intersections with race, identity, mental health, and the artist’s lived experience. Shifting between figuration and abstraction with practiced ease, Sabree foregrounds the nuances of manhood and boyhood through potent, evocative, and impactful series of works. The artist’s dynamic scenes employ bold brushstrokes and vibrant, meaning-laden color palettes to question societal norms and the expectations placed on boys and men. Sabree’s work exudes a profound social and political awareness of the ongoing, transgenerational struggle for justice and equality, inviting viewers to join the artist in his pursuit of radical healing.

About Ginger Rudolph
Ginger Rudolph is a Philadelphia-based art curator and writer with a passion for developing multidisciplinary connections with artists. She is the Founder & Editor of an online art magazine focusing on contemporary and public art, HAHA Magazine (High on Art, Heavy on Antics), and co-founder of HAHAxParadigm, a civic and social art initiative. She received her B.A. from Tyler School of Art + Architecture in Art History.

About Paradigm Gallery
Paradigm Gallery + Studio® was established in 2010 by co-founders and curators, Jason Chen and Sara McCorriston. The gallery exhibits meaningful, process-intense contemporary artwork from around the world. Paradigm Gallery is globally recognized and known as a tastemaker within the greater Philadelphia arts community. As the gallery grows, it maintains its original mission to keep art accessible, and continues to be a champion of small businesses and emerging and mid-career artists.