Elias Naman is an Italian-Syrian sculptor whose art breathes life into marble through the ancient and instinctive technique of direct carving. Eschewing preparatory sketches and mechanized tools, he lets the stone guide his hand, engaging in a silent yet profound conversation where form emerges organically. This intuitive process reveals the marble’s hidden spirit, allowing its natural veins and textures to dictate the flow and contour of each piece. Naman’s sculptures become more than mere objects; they are vessels of identity, spirituality, and the fragile human condition, capturing transient emotions and eternalizing them in stone.

Naman’s journey began at the University of Fine Arts in Damascus, where he laid the foundation of his artistic language. He then honed his mastery at the renowned Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara, Italy, a place steeped in centuries of sculptural tradition. There, he specialized in Sacred Art and Marble Sculpture, immersing himself in the rich heritage of his medium. This dual heritage, Syrian roots and Italian craftsmanship, imbues his work with a layered complexity, where East meets West, history meets the present, and the sacred meets the personal.

His sculptures have traveled far beyond their birthplace, exhibited in prestigious venues across Italy, France, Switzerland, Lebanon, Norway, and the Vatican. They inhabit both public spaces and private collections, touching souls from the hallowed halls of the Syriac Catholic Church in Rome to the academic corridors of the Pontifical Lateran University. Each installation is a testament to his ability to transform cold stone into warm, evocative forms that speak quietly yet powerfully of the human experience.

The latest chapter in Naman’s oeuvre is the series Fragments of Humanity, a meditation on the soul’s subtle yet indelible mark upon marble. Using rare and esteemed materials such as Black Portoro, Calacatta, and Statuario from Carrara, he carves with reverence and precision, unveiling shards of existence frozen in time. These sculptures invite contemplation, urging viewers to reflect on the fractured yet interconnected facets of identity, memory, and resilience.

Elias Naman’s work embodies a timeless dialogue between artist and material, where the stone’s voice is both heard and amplified through delicate craftsmanship. His sculptures stand as silent witnesses to the enduring search for meaning, beauty, and transcendence, reminding us that beneath the surface of every block lies a story waiting to be revealed.