Études pour une illustration (circa 1975) epitomises the artist’s signature dreamlike aesthetic. In this captivating composition, two opposing female figures ethereally meld into delicate floral motifs alongside chaotic and shadowy elements, reflecting Seraphim’s exploration of both the luminous and dark aspects of femininity, sensuality, and fantasy. The fluid transformation of forms imbues the work with a sense of mystery and allure, inviting the viewer into a deeply personal realm. Signed in the lower right, this exquisite early piece by Seraphim exemplifies her unique visual language, making it a striking and desirable addition to any collection. The work was showcased in 2022 at Agial Gallery in “A Search for the fantastic: The Doche, Séraphim and Barrage Group.”

Juliana Seraphim (Palestinian-Lebanese, b. 1934 - d. 2005) channelled her experience of exile into a rich corpus of surreal, fantastical paintings that bear both the feminine and the grotesque in equal measure. She fled to Lebanon with her family during the 1948 Palestinian Catastrophe (Al-Nakba) and was deeply impacted by this episode. Perhaps this is why in 1952 she chose to dedicate her efforts working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for several years in Beirut. 

She began painting under the mentorship of the Lebanese artist Jean Khalifé, who exhibited her work in his studio. Later she was formally trained at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, going on to spend a year in Florence in 1959, and then moving to Madrid to study at the Royal Academy of San Fernando on a scholarship in 1960.

Living as a professional artist between Paris and Beirut until she passed away in 2005, Juliana Seraphim leaves behind a rich legacy. Beyond exhibiting widely in Beirut and abroad, she represented Lebanon (having been granted citizenship) in three international biennials: Alexandria (1962), Paris (1963, 1969) and Sāo Paulo (1965). Her work is featured in the Metropolitan Museum of New York; Museum of the City of Viareggio; Musée du Surréalisme, Paris; Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris; Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman; Sursock Museum, Beirut; the Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation, Beirut; and the Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah.