Biography

“Working at the museum is not like a job—it’s my home.” Mohamed Khalil is an Egyptian-born American artist, curator, and cultural leader based in Paterson, New Jersey. He is widely recognized as the first Arab and Muslim artist to design an ornament for the White House Christmas Tree, a milestone that reflects his ability to bridge traditions and cultures through art. With degrees from Alexandria University, the Egyptian Academy in Rome, and Columbia University, Mohamed has exhibited his work internationally, including at the United Nations and across the U.S. In addition to his artistic practice—spanning painting, printmaking, sculpture, and stained glass—he is the founder of “Art from the Heart,” a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting art and culture in the community. Since 2007, he has also been a vital presence at the Paterson Museum, where his commitment to history, education, and creativity has left a lasting impact on both visitors and the city itself.

Statement

Reflections of Identity and Society

My artworks, whether in painting or installation, are a continuous exploration of personal transformation—a path shaped through my connection with the world around me and with others. My work also grows out of my background and early memories. It reflects three cultures—Arab, Middle Eastern, and American—that meet, overlap, and transform one another. Encounters with people from different walks of life have shaped who I am and what I know, and these influences appear naturally in my art. I try to build bridges between my own culture and others, bringing them together into a shared space that often leads to unexpected harmony.

I use ordinary, everyday materials to create works that blur the boundaries between the physical world and the spiritual realm. This journey is based on the idea that life is not a series of fixed moments, but a continuous flow of growth and discovery.

I use spiral forms and circular shapes in my installations that symbolize continuous motion and individual initiative. These works are built on the existential idea, as Sartre describes, that “man is nothing but what he makes of himself,” showing how our identity is made up of our choices and conduct. At the same time, the use of reflective surfaces in these works also makes the viewer part of the work itself, underlining that individual growth never happens in isolation but always in relation to society and through experiences with others. This reflects what J. Krishnamurti writes in What Are You Doing With Your Life?, that genuine growth and meaning in life arise only through our true self and our relations with others.

In my paintings, this journey is told through visual rhythm and color harmony. By using recycled materials such as cardboard and newspapers as backgrounds, I lift the work from a grounded, earthly surface to a more transcendent space. The use of ancient geometry and deep blue and golden tones gives the paintings depth and leads them toward the idea of infinity.

Building on these foundations, my proposed project aims to create a multimedia work that presents this interaction between matter and spirit, between the individual and society, in a new and innovative way. The ultimate goal is to invite the audience to reflect on their own journey toward growth and solidarity, and to show that within every small effort lies a greater truth.

Gallery

Mix media

Painting

Sculpture

Drawing

Projects & Education: