{{short description|Syrian artist based in Istanbul (born 1986)}} {{Infobox person | name = Khaled Akil | image = Khaled Akil.png | education = Bachelor's degree in Law and Political Science | alma_mater = Beirut Arab University | occupation = Mixed media artist | website = {{url|khaledakil.com}} }} '''Khaled Akil''' (born 1986 in Aleppo) is a Syrian artist based in Istanbul.<ref name=NYTIMES>{{cite news|title=Lives|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/20/magazine/the-identity-thief.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times Magazine| date=18 December 2015 | last1=Akil | first1=Khaled }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Khaled AKil-Biography|url=http://home.fotofest.org/exhibitions/2015/internationaldiscoveriesv/akil.aspx#.VmwS-Up97IU|website=Fotofest.org|access-date=12 December 2015|archive-date=6 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206093617/http://home.fotofest.org/exhibitions/2015/internationaldiscoveriesv/akil.aspx#.VmwS-Up97IU|url-status=dead}}</ref> A self-taught artist, he works across a variety of media. He is best known for his photography series ''Pokémon Go in Syria''.<ref name="Vice" />
== Biography == Khaled Akil was born in Aleppo, Syria,<ref name="AJ">{{cite news|title=Artist Khaled Akil imagines Pokémon Go in ravaged Syria|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/07/artist-khaled-akil-imagines-pokmon-ravaged-syria-160722172024059.html|agency=Al Jazeera}}</ref> into a family with a long history of artistic and political influence. His father is the renowned painter Youssef Akil.<ref>{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://www.janetradyfineart.com/artist/Khaled_Akil/biography/|website=janetradyfineart.com}}</ref> His great maternal grandfather is the Syrian author and historical figure Abd al-Rahman al-Kawakibi.
Akil held his first exhibition in 2009, whilst completing his bachelor's degree in Law.<ref name=NYTIMES /> His experience in law, politics and human rights played a major role in his artistic development and outlook.<ref>{{cite web|title=PHOTOGRAPHY. BEHIND SYRIA'S WAR|url=http://www.freearabs.com/index.php/photo-gallery-page-art/jb-span-photography-jb-span-behind-syria-s-war#!1|website=freearabs.com}}</ref>
In 2012, he held a solo exhibition, "The Legend of Death",<ref>{{cite web|title=FAREWELL IS NOT GOOD-BYE|url=http://www.mantlethought.org/arts-and-culture/farewell-not-good-bye|website=mantlethought.org}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> in Istanbul, where he now resides,<ref name="Vice">{{cite web|title=You Need to Be Looking at 'Pokémon Go in Syria'|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/pokemon-go-in-syria-photographs-isis/|website=The Creator Project.Vice}}</ref> having been displaced by the escalating war in Syria.<ref>{{cite web|title=Your Middle East's managing editor caught up with celebrated Syrian artist Khaled Akil who currently resides in Istanbul. |url=http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/features/qa-with-Syrian-artist-khaled-akil_15437 |website=yourmiddleeast.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021030126/http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/features/qa-with-syrian-artist-khaled-akil_15437 |archivedate=2015-10-21 }}</ref>
==Solo exhibitions== * 2018 – ''Requiem for Syria'', Brown University, Rhode Island, U.S.<ref>{{cite web |title=Art at Watson Presents "Requiem for Syria," an exhibition by Khaled Akil |url=https://watson.brown.edu/events/2018/art-watson-presents-requiem-syria-exhibition-khaled-akil}}</ref> * 2017 – Stanford University, California, U.S.<ref>{{cite news|title=Syrian Khaled Akil, whose work is being exhibited in California, joins artists protesting discriminatory travel ban.|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/artist-khaled-akil-vows-seek-visa-trump-170131152241414.html|agency=Al Jazeera}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Syrian Artist Khaled Akil: 'Art Flies With No Visa'|url=https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/2017/02/22/syrian-artist-khaled-akil-art-flies-with-no-visa/|website=kqed.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Syrian Artist's Photographs Offer a Prayer for Peace|date=21 September 2018 |url=https://medium.com/stanford-global-perspectives/syrian-artists-photographs-offer-a-prayer-for-peace-cf20b4eefc91#.h727nnv37|publisher=Stanford Global Studies}}</ref> * 2013 – ''The Legend of Death'', Chalabi Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey<ref>{{cite web|title=Chalabi Art Gallery hosts Syrian artist Khaled Akil|url=http://www.culturedworld.com/tag/khaled-akil/|website=culturedworld.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title="Legend of Death" - Khaled Akil|url=http://lebriz.com/pages/exhibition.aspx?lang=ENG&exhID=3744&bhcp=1|website=lebriz.com}}</ref> * 2012 – ''The Unmentioned'', Lahd Gallery, London, UK<ref>{{cite news|title=Syrian artist's Hampstead exhibition explores nation in conflict|url=http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/syrian_artist_s_hampstead_exhibition_explores_nation_in_conflict_1_1219860|agency=ham and high newspaper|publisher=James Podesta|date=27 February 2012|archive-date=21 July 2018|access-date=29 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721221835/http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/syrian_artist_s_hampstead_exhibition_explores_nation_in_conflict_1_1219860|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=20 top exhibitions in 2012|url=http://islamicartsmagazine.com/magazine/view/20_top_exhibitions_in_2012/|website=islamicartsmagazine.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Photography exhibition 'Khaled Akil: The Unmentioned' at London's Lahd Gallery|url=http://islamicartsmagazine.com/magazine/view/photography_exhibition_khaled_akil/|website=islamicartsmagazine.com}}</ref> * 2011 – Karma Art Gallery, Aleppo, Syria * 2010 – Mustafa Ali Art Foundation, Damascus, Syria * 2009 – Sarmad Art Gallery, Aleppo, Syria
==Group exhibitions== * 2019 – ''Kashash'', Bozar Art Museum, Brussels, Belgium<ref>{{cite web |title=Moussem Cities Damascus 01-28.02.2019 Brussels + Beirut 14-15.01 |url=https://www.moussem.be/files/get/243&usg=AOvVaw03u_V_XosaJweLV6Y5MDEb}}</ref> * 2018 – ''Anti Trump Show'', Creative Debuts, London, UK<ref>{{cite web |title=Anti Trump show creative debut |url=https://creativedebuts.co.uk/artwork-tag/donald-trump/ |access-date=21 March 2019 |archive-date=21 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321163856/https://creativedebuts.co.uk/artwork-tag/donald-trump/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><br> ''Uprooted'', World Bank, Washington, D.C., U.S.<ref>{{cite web |title=Uprooted, World Bank. |url=http://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/world-bank-art-exhibition-artists-unpack-displacement-stories}}</ref><br> ''Tribe: Contemporary Photography from the Arab World'', American University Museum, Katzen Arts Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tribe: Contemporary Photography from the Arab World |url=https://www.american.edu/cas/museum/2018/tribe.cfm}}</ref> * 2016 – ''Flight'', West Branch Gallery, Stowe, Vermont, U.S.<ref>{{cite web|title='Flight' takes off|url=http://www.stowetoday.com/this_week/arts/flight-takes-off/article_2e6e956a-f6a8-11e5-8a72-a7c1c2d2cf56.html?mode=image&photo|website=stowetoday.com}}</ref><br> Anna & Mark Art Fair, San Jose, California<ref>{{cite web|title=Anne & Mark's Art Party|url=https://artpartysj.com/artists/khaled-akil/|website=artpartysj.com}}</ref><br> ''Catharsis'', Gaya Art Gallery, Sidi Bou Said<ref>{{cite web|title=CATHARSIS // Group show|url=http://ghayagallery.com/gallery/group-show/|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-date=11 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211103418/http://ghayagallery.com/gallery/group-show/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2015 – ''International Discoveries V'', FotoFest, Houston, Texas, U.S.<ref>{{cite web|title=2015 Exhibitions|url=http://home.fotofest.org/exhibitions/2015/international-discoveries-v.aspx#.Vmwup0p97IU|website=fotofest.org|access-date=12 December 2015|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222092808/http://home.fotofest.org/exhibitions/2015/international-discoveries-v.aspx#.Vmwup0p97IU|url-status=dead}}</ref><br> ''Woman Through The Eyes'', Tajallyat Art Gallery, Beirut<br> ''In-Quest'', Gaya Art Gallery, Sidi Bou Said<br> ''Voices from the Middle East'', Art in Exile Festival, Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite web|title=Art in Exile Festival: "Voices from the Middle East"|url=http://www.goethe.de/ins/us/was/ver/en14964324v.htm|website=goethe.de}}</ref> * 2009 – ''From Aleppo with Love'', Le Pont Gallery, Aleppo, Syria
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[https://medium.com/stanford-global-perspectives/syrian-artists-photographs-offer-a-prayer-for-peace-cf20b4eefc91#.h727nnv37 Syrian Artist’s Photographs Offer a Prayer for Peace] *[https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/2017/02/22/syrian-artist-khaled-akil-art-flies-with-no-visa/ Syrian Artist Khaled Akil: ‘Art Flies With No Visa’] *[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/artist-khaled-akil-vows-seek-visa-trump-170131152241414.html Artist Khaled Akil vows not to seek US visa under Trump] *[https://www.vice.com/en/article/pokemon-go-in-syria-photographs-isis/ You Need to Be Looking at 'Pokémon Go in Syria - The Creators Project, VICE] *[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/07/artist-khaled-akil-imagines-pokmon-ravaged-syria-160722172024059.html Artist Khaled Akil imagines Pokémon Go in ravaged Syria | AL Jazeera EN] *[https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/20/magazine/the-identity-thief.html?_r=0 "The Identity Thief"- Article by Khaled Akil | The New York Times Magazine] *[http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/culture/requiem-for-syria-artist-khaled-akil-on-why-his-latest-work-is-about-peace-not-war-photos_34822 Requiem for Syria: artist Khaled Akil on why his latest work is about peace, not war] *[http://islamicommentary.org/2015/03/watch-the-syrian-art-world-after-2011-presented-by-miriam-cooke/ The Syrian Art World After 2011– presented by miriam cooke ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630215953/http://islamicommentary.org/2015/03/watch-the-syrian-art-world-after-2011-presented-by-miriam-cooke/ |date=30 June 2015 }} *[http://lostorigins.com/news/khaled-akil-joins-art-team-for-aleppo-syria-witness-to-an-ancient-legacy/ Khaled Akil joins art team for “Aleppo, Syria: Witness to an Ancient Legacy”] * [http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/features/the-five-hottest-artists-from-the-middle-east-today_9458 The five hottest artists from the Middle East today] * [http://www.reorientmag.com/2012/09/khaled-akil/ Khaled Akil: storyteller. Revealer of truths. Armed to the teeth.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623182630/http://www.reorientmag.com/2012/09/khaled-akil/ |date=23 June 2015 }}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Akil, Khaled}} Category:Syrian male artists Category:Syrian contemporary artists Category:Nude photographers Category:Censorship in the arts Category:Living people Category:Artists from Aleppo Category:Beirut Arab University alumni Category:Fine art photographers Category:Obscenity controversies in photography Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century Syrian artists Category:21st-century Syrian male artists