The Artist as Subject

Elie for Absent Findings

In this intimate visual story, Absent Findings collaborates with multidisciplinary artist Elie Chamma’a, blurring the boundaries between creator and creation. Captured in a series of eight evocative images, Elie paints within his home studio—each gesture, surface, and garment reflecting a dialogue between his art and identity.

Elie’s work is unapologetically eclectic, drawing on both Western and Middle Eastern influences. Through bold contrasts, symbolic forms, and layered narratives, his practice explores themes of identity, nostalgia, societal pressure, and sexual selfhood. These ideas are mirrored in the garments he wears—pieces from Absent Findings that embody both softness and structure. A flowy silk blouse, crafted from a heritage sari, echoes the lyrical motion of his brushstrokes. In contrast, tailored denim trousers ground the look in form and intent, evoking the clarity and boldness present in his work.

This project celebrates the space where heritage meets contemporary expression, where art and fashion inform one another. In Elie’s world, clothing becomes canvas, and the act of dressing becomes an extension of creative authorship.

Photography: @visualdelirium