Shamma’s practice focuses on death and humanity expressed mainly through self- portraits and children painted in a life-like visceral way. The Syrian conflict has a distinct impact on the way that Shamma portrays her subjects. Working mainly from life and photographs, the artist uses oils to create a hyper realistic scene, using transparency lines and motion to portray a distant and deep void.
Shamma believes in helping others and has been supporting the United Nations World Food Program since 2010, during which time she produced Fighting Hunger., sold by Christie’s Dubai in 2012 with all proceeds going to the WFP. Shamma has participated in a number of solo and group exhibitions including: World Civil War Portraits, The Old Truman Brewery (London, 2015); Diaspora, Art Sawa Gallery (Dubai, 2014); Q, Royal College of Art (London, 2013); Birth, Art House (Damascus, 2011); Love, 360 MALL (Kuwait, 2009); The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition, The Mall Galleries (London, 2013); Nord Art 2012 organized by KiC – Kunst in der Carlshütte (Büdelsdorf, 2012); UAE Through Arabian Eyes, (Dubai, 2008); Syrian Artists, Souq Wakef Art Center (Doha, 2008); Panorama of Syrian Arts, Catzen Arts Centre at The American University (Washington D.C, 2007); International Painting Prize of the Castellon County Council, (Castellon 2005), Castellon and the Municipal Arts Centre of Alcorcon, (Madrid, 2005-2006); Women and Arts, International Vision, Expo Sharjah (Sharjah, 2005).
Art Awards include 1st prize in Latakia Biennial, Syria (2001), 4th prize BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London (2004), 1st prize The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, The South Australian Museum (2008), and a painting prize at the Florence Biennial (2013).
2014 “Diaspora” Art Sawa Gallery, Dubai, UAE.
2013 “Q” Royal College of Art, London, UK.
2011 “Birth” Art House, Damascus, Syria.
2009 “The Sema Ceremony from Turkey with Sara Shamma’s Dervishes” event organized by the Turkish Embassy in Damascus and Art House, Art House, Damascus, Syria.
2008 “Sara Shamma 2008” 'Finishing Touch', Knowledge Village, Dubai, U.A.E.
2007 “Music 2007” Cornish Club Event Gallery, Kuwait.
2004 “Sara Shamma 2004” Kalemaat Art Gallery, Aleppo, Syria.
2002 “Sara Shamma 2002” Nassir Choura Art Gallery, Damascus, Syria.
2001 “Sara Shamma 2001” Shell Cultural Club, Damascus, Syria.
2000 “Sara Shamma 2000” Nassir Choura Art Gallery, Damascus, Syria.
1999 “Sara Shamma 1999” French Cultural Center, Damascus, Syria.
2015 Guest artist at the 33rd Emirates Fine Arts Society Annual Exhibition, Sharjah Art Museum.
2013 Florence Biennial, Florence, Italy.
2012 “Nord Art 2012” Annual International Exhibition, organized by KiC – Kunst in der Carlshütte, Büdelsdorf, Germany.
2011 The Samawi Collection, Ayyam Art gallery, Dubai, UAE.
2010 Art Prize 2010, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
2009 “Contemporary Istanbul” International Art Fair, Istanbul, Turkey.
2008/09 “Damas- Paris, Regards Croisés” The Arab World Institute, Paris, France and at the National Museum, Damascus, Syria.
2008 “UAE Through Arabian Eyes” the International Financial Centre, Dubai, UAE.
2007 “Panorama of Syrian Arts” Catzen Arts Centre The American University Washington, D.C. USA.
2006 “Syrian Artists” Syrian Cultural Centre, Paris, France.