Reem Bassous. Image credit: Chelsea Akamine.Reem Bassous will become Washington Studio School’s new Artistic Director and Head of Faculty, effective August 31, 2023. Reem returns to WSS after 15 years with the University of Hawaiʻi higher education system. Reem is a painter, teacher, and speaker who brings experience, skill, knowledge, and vision to her new position.
“This is a homecoming of sorts for me. I never lost my connection with the Studio School, carrying its lessons with me, and occasionally being invited by Jill Phillips to teach a workshop. My time teaching within the University of Hawaiʻi system where I taught as a lecturer, assistant professor and gallery coordinator has prepared me to take on the task of curriculum design, team leadership, and vision implementation. I hope to brainstorm with the WSS team to design a pedagogy that builds on a strong tradition but looks forward to new breakthroughs.”
Reem Bassous received her BA from The Lebanese American University and her MFA from The George Washington University. She started teaching drawing and painting in 2001 at The George Washington University and taught at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa for 9 years. She served as assistant professor at Leeward Community College at the University of Hawaiʻi for seven years and was Gallery Coordinator for Hōʻikeākea Gallery for one year.
Bassous’ regional and national exhibitions include solo shows at the Honolulu Museum of Art, SBCAST Gallery in Santa Barbara, and Washington Studio School Gallery, in Washington DC. Her work has been reviewed by the Washington Post, Art Asia Pacific, and the Honolulu Star Advertiser. Bassous’ work is in permanent collections, including the Honolulu Museum of Art and Shangri La Museum for Islamic Art, Culture, and Design.
About Washington Studio School
Washington Studio School (WSS) is a nonprofit studio arts organization in Washington DC whose mission is to teach how to see and create through drawing, painting and sculpture. The school offers classes, workshops, exhibitions, and programs to engage, connect and bring people together with a fresh approach to traditional studio art. To learn more about WSS, visit washingtonstudioschool.org.
[Source: Washington Studio School (WSS) press release]
