ArtDayME: Inside Out ‘25, the latest exhibition by Syrian painter Elias Izoli, is currently on view at Ayyam Gallery (Warehouse 11) and runs until 6 November 2025. The show presents Izoli’s newest body of work following a long pause in his artistic practice, offering a contemplative look at the “circus of life.”

A childhood fascination evolved into a profound reflection on the unpredictability and complexity of life as a Syrian citizen. In his latest series, Izoli uses the circus as a metaphor: its performers, from tightrope walkers to clowns and magicians, embody the tension between joy and survival. The circus and its family become a symbol of the broader social body, with each character representing the individuals who comprise the state’s fabric.

With concealed motives that slowly unravel under closer inspection, Izoli reveals an environment that we, as spectators, have only observed from the outside. He invites us inside the fortress-like walls, offering a view from within. Rendered in his signature fragmented color style, each painting presents a portrait that speaks to resilience, illusion, and the spectacle of existence

This series marks a new direction in Izoli’s practice, yet remains rooted in the influence of those who came before him. The theme of balance resurfaces through a contemporary reinterpretation of Da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, now reimagined in the shape-shifting form of a clown. Like a joker card in a game, the two paintings featuring this clown figure act as wildcards, capable of ending this tumultuous spectacle of emotions.

Manipulation takes center stage in these works: vibrant colors, playful acts, and magical illusions draw the viewer in, only to mask the deeper realities beneath the surface. In this swirling performance, joy and despair are intertwined, both performed and concealed at once.

Photos credit: Ayyam Gallery