Arab Surreal - Paintings by Karim Chaïbi

Karim Chaïbi is a Tunis-born painter and storyteller whose work explores the landscapes of the unconscious through vivid, dreamlike imagery. Drawing on his early studies in Islamic theology and the rich tradition of Tunisian oral storytelling, Chaïbi creates intimate, small-format oil paintings layered with symbolism, self-reflection, and surrealist influence. His art often incorporates recurring motifs—such as the egg or the oval—as symbols of rebirth and personal transformation.

A self-taught artist, Chaïbi's work is deeply introspective, inviting viewers into private visual narratives shaped by memory, emotion, and cultural mythology. His acclaimed exhibition Morpheus exemplified his fusion of image and story, offering both visual and literary journeys through layered dreamscapes. Based in Europe, he continues to paint and write, weaving together myth, metaphor, and meaning in a practice rooted in both ancient traditions and modern introspection.