KAREEM ILIYA

Kareem Iliya

            Kareem Iliya was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1967.  He moved to Texas in 1976. At first, he studied in fashion design at the University of Texas, Austin, USA. Then, he continued his studies at the F.I.T (Institute of Fashion Technology), in New York. He graduated in 1990 and is living in New York now.

               He first started his fashion career with Giorgio Armani as week as a freelanced as an illustrator from 1992. His works appeared on CNN TV show "Style with Elsa Klensch" and he has exhibited at the "Art 54" and Seed galleries in New York. Besides, his illustration also ever appeared in many fashion magazines, but his greatest buzz was for his work to appear in W magazine which he has followed avidly throughout his college years. The other publication he longed for his work is to appear in was Visionaire, and he was fortunate enough for his works to appear in some of the early issues. On the other hand, his work was prominently featured in Nicholas Drake's book "Illustration Today".

He uses watercolour and inks on paper as the medium, often in vibrant colours through which figures and objects seem to burst and radiate. His work usually described as being 'ethereal' and 'mystical'. However, his aim is to create an illustration in a graphical way, yet soft and beautiful. 

His works give both beauty and grace impression, yet appearing mysteriously with sinuous movement. The employs watercolour and ink to have fully effect with limited palette bleeding into one another organically. Besides, there is also a strong element of nostalgia.

These illustrations of his show the gorgeous silhouettes.

By using watercolour and ink medium, he creates simple and elegant illustrations by playing with the background colour. He doesn't put much on the dress, besides, he has more focus on the background and the details for the accessories on the dress.