When art is a brilliant storyteller

Shifting from telecommunications engineering to drawing and graphic designing, Mostafa Jacoub is a Syrian artist based in the U.S., who depicts what has been happening in Syria since the beginning of the revolution through his art, using various artistic elements.
Sometimes societal, human or political surrounding events can change one’s whole personal life; Jacoub’s life is a testament to this concept. Like many Syrians, Jacoub has been deeply influenced by the Syrian revolution to the extent that he completely shifted his career to picture the revolution’s events.

According to his beliefs, art is a brilliant tool for exposing human struggles; Jacoub intends to engage people all over the world in the painful artistic Syrian scene. His artistic vision is based on connecting fellow humans by making them “feel” the story depicted in his art.


Artwork of a Syrian woman by the Syrian artist Moustafa Jacoub – Photo courtesy of Moustafa Jacoub’s official Facebook page.

Although he is intensely inspired by many remarkable painters like Salvador Dalí, who is known for painting “The Persistence of Time”, and Leonardo Da Vinci known for the “Mona Lisa”, Jacoub was determined to develop his own artistic identity through teaching, research and designs. Exceptionally featuring national unity, Jacoub’s first artwork in 2012 has taken social media by storm and was widely spread in a short time.



: First artwork by the Syrian artist Moustafa Jacoub featuring graffiti by Syrian artist Fadwa Soliman – Photo courtesy of Moustafa Jacoub’s official Facebook page.

Jacoub also launched a celebrity campaign in 2012, entitled “I am Syrian” that broke all the stereotypical ideas leading to the rejection of the Syrian refugees in most of the countries they escape to. The campaign swooped the internet and all social media networks; it features many well known figures, showing solidarity with Syrians and calling for their basic rights.

“I am Syrian” helped to change the western perception of Syrians, proving that the west knows almost nothing about Syria. Jacoub put together a series of pictures of the most prominent celebrities that have Syrian origins, including Wentworth Miller, the famous “Prison Break” actor, and Steve Jobs, creator of Apple, whose father was actually a Syrian refugee himself, amongst many other celebrities.



Celebrity campaign by the Syrian artist Moustafa Jacoub - Photo courtesy of Moustafa Jacoub’s official Facebook page.

Jacoub’s art took a more serious turn towards the Syrian refugees after the severe losses that resulted from the Syrian war. Through numerous paintings and designs, he started to shed light on the every-day struggles Syrian survivors experience everywhere, including the refugees. His art depicts the challenges and risks that refugees encounter during their journeys to other countries.



Syrian citizens during the war by the Syrian artist Moustafa Jacoub featuring graffiti by Syrian artist Fadwa Soliman – Photo courtesy of Moustafa Jacoub’s official Facebook page.

On many occasions such as Christmas and Islamic feasts, Jacoub insists on reminding humanity of the happiness that was stolen from Syrians who have been spending their holidays among war ruins.Although Jacoub participated in several exhibitions in Italy, Greece, Spain, Britain and Turkey, among others, he dreams that one day he’ll be able to exhibit his art in his beloved country, Syria.



Christmas events by the Syrian artist Moustafa Jacoub featuring graffiti by Syrian artist Fadwa Soliman – Photo courtesy of Moustafa Jacoub’s official Facebook page.