Firetti Contemporary is thrilled to present I PUT MY BRAIN ON PAUSE!, a solo exhibition by Lebanese artist Ihab Ahmad. Open until 20 August 2025, this bold, playful, and emotionally resonant show marks a distinct shift in Ahmad’s practice, prioritising instinct over intellect and emotion over perfection.
For the first time, Ahmad introduces smiling faces into his canvases, which evoke memories, connection, and a sense of joyous freedom. These motifs become central visual signatures across his new artworks. Using oil on linen, spray paint, and at times his non-dominant hand, the artist experiments with looseness and spontaneity. The deliberate embrace of imperfection allows his inner world to surface unfiltered.
Apart from 2D pieces, the exhibition features totem-like wooden sculptures: hand-carved structures that blur the boundary between painting and object and invite viewers to physically navigate his dreamlike environment. Adding to this spatial narrative is a Lamborghini painted by the artist in collaboration with Lamborghini Dubai. The luxury automobile is turned into a mobile, painterly intervention which merges the worlds of high-performance design and creative experimentation.
I PUT MY BRAIN ON PAUSE! is an invitation to slow down, to feel deeply, and to rediscover the joy of creative abandon. In a world that often demands constant analysis, Ahmad offers a much-needed pause button.
About the artist
Ihab Ahmad (b. 1983, Beirut, Lebanon) studied Visual Communication at the Lebanese University (Beirut) and later honed his artistic skills through workshops in painting, drawing, and silkscreen. In 2016, he established the Beirut Art Studio, a space dedicated to art education and experimentation.
Ahmad’s art is marked by recurring symbolic motifs (eyes, fish, animals, crowns, trees, and others) that carry echoes of memory, childhood, and inner freedom. His practice, which spans painting, collage, sculpture, and installation, often draws from the visual languages of iconic artists such as Paul Klee, Joan Miró, and Pablo Picasso.
Ahmad has displayed his colourful creations in multiple exhibitions across the globe, including Symphony & Duality (Al Quoz, Dubai, 2024); a solo exhibition at Mark Hachem Gallery (Beirut, 2022); and BREAK (ArtBooth, Abu Dhabi, 2020). He has participated in major fairs including Miami Art Fair (USA, 2023), Menart Fair (Ambassador House, Brussels, Belgium, 2022), and Egypt International Art Fair (Cairo, Egypt, 2021).
To get more information about I PUT MY BRAIN ON PAUSE!, please visit the exhibition’s official web page.
Additionally, you might be interested in viewing LATINOAMERICANO: Modern and Contemporary Art from the Malba and Eduardo F. Costantini Collections.
