A Past Life That Exists For Nostalgia, 2017-Present
Toronto based artist Ibrahim Abusitta paints inviting yet eerie group portraits of fun gatherings and social spaces in his series "A Past Life that Exists for Nostalgia"
Each painting is filled with an ominous wash of colour, a rust orange, neon fuchsia, and muted burgundy, tinting the scenes with an emotional backdrop. They capture a cinematic moment, a movie still that has been eroded with time with details that have faded away. The texture of the wood-grain surface comes through the pigment, and details have been scratched into the façade with a desperation for familiarity. The faces of his figures remain anonymous, lacking in specificity and because of this, they feel untied to reality. Their existence is warped through the painter's lens, like a lost connection or a distorted memory.
This body of work by Ibrahim Abusitta is saturated with a deep longing for people and places unknown. When considering these paintings, we are overwhelmed with a desire to visit the past and reshape our own memories and experiences.
Text by The Gathered Gallery [ Emily Pittman and Natalie Field ]
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3192,2367,3192,1200/0-0-0/efb044fb-d89c-434b-8b2c-dc0e91c80bc5/1/1/smoker_1.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=3695e4af1b255bcbf52cceedd6710010b469fc0dd6fe732fd59848870957f544)
Something to Contemplate
Acrylic on wood panel
9 x 12 x 1.5 in
2019
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3323,2462,3323,1200/0-0-0/630480d5-bad5-4e23-a8e8-461beec7966b/1/1/smoker_2.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=9b695fdb1385a5325debda3ed440fda78cbaa0cef4e6cfdc5f22f45ecb5394eb)
Something to Contemplate II
Acrylic on wood panel
9 x 12 x 1.5 in
2019
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3337,2651,3337,1200/0-0-0/6f36dd7a-3432-4afb-b82b-f5cf3fd4e2f0/1/1/smoker_3.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=5258c0f1f6dbeaffa274e6be6d1d5ec58811a08439e3599c8d15ea4071ae8585)
Something to Contemplate III
Acrylic on wood panel
16 x 20 x 1.5 in
2019
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3334,2654,3334,1200/0-0-0/4d43eee9-136f-4552-990f-9b92326e5c92/1/1/Running_Low.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=c189efacbcc20c0e0fa2dab8b05ba925d55e5701389051f675f42812adc84e38)
Thirsty
Acrylic on wood panel
16 x 20 x 1.5 in
2019
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3332,2655,3332,1200/0-0-0/ed5643bb-3e45-427d-af43-4af514065735/1/1/Happy_Go_lucky.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=3390691167e4385054522c65c37f10369908ba812f4c36cb618e4e1fd6e52458)
Happy Go Lucky
Acrylic on wood panel
24 x 30 x 1.5 in
2019
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,2651,3338,1600,3338/0-0-0/0685f594-59ff-468c-9015-35fde649419e/1/1/The_Dancers2019.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=9fbaf349ce708245ca1f9538ebc82b0f80ddd7455fc00a977dc978098a37de86)
The Dancers (revisited)
Acrylic on wood panel
30 x 24 x 1.5 in
2019
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3114,2317,3114,1200/0-0-0/1b943076-82b1-4d9f-97ef-9a7419871493/1/1/ANightToRemember.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=b7a0fc597f537af0ffd0711f68bb15543f5ad3e45a7bb8d80350658f57c4432a)
A Night To Remember
Acrylic on wood panel
12 x 16 x 1.5 in
2018
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,2582,3426,1600,3426/0-0-0/d2d6797c-c890-4a39-a0c9-5f17d230686e/1/1/neverlettinggo.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=88862af0aedac72c57dc9103d12ca67a9037be5f894a5e5f42fb473db321cbdd)
Never Letting Go
Acrylic on wood panel
16 x 12 x 1.5 in
2018
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3187,2288,3187,1200/0-0-0/f73b4e5c-8367-4422-882e-4ce12d9834a5/1/1/JULY_201913161.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=fcdd4188c4a189366455c868860b792f3e9aaa610e6704747e13024bf1efbd3a)
Dancing Couple
Acrylic on paper
8 x 11 in
2019
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,2529,3499,1600,3499/0-0-0/fcbf7869-4e92-400d-afba-ab22f66696b2/1/1/JULY_201913163.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=e85f9f17c3a9f1f25ffa76e01f572687ecbe6cdaffe3dc1953c51f8e194f4273)
The Dancers II
Acrylic on paper
11 x 8 in
2019
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3326,2660,3326,1200/0-0-0/da1048a2-15fa-4d61-bb66-2c0c9c4ffef6/1/1/theplayers_1.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=ec29615770582c73f9258a8f7f91378aa8ebb70519c2f91c5101332c35f8890b)
The Players
Acrylic on wood panel
16 x 20 x 1.5 in
2018
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,2995,2398,2995,1200/0-0-0/9ee7d714-c8fa-476e-bf1e-1533d85d1332/1/1/theplayers_2.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=c2b5ee481f939cd5a574bc48cfef0b78ff672e145d8a6886e4aabfaf6d8e21c1)
The Players II
Acrylic on wood panel
16 x 20 x 1.5 in
2018
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3321,2664,3321,1200/0-0-0/fd32310c-60aa-46e5-80d5-008c01605e0a/1/1/THE_PLAYERS_2.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=4350334c19e0acd1299a003191946bcc1e793367080e3b04910fd35098ecc8de)
The Players III
Acrylic on wood panel
16 x 20 x 1.5 in
2018
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3288,2691,3288,1200/0-0-0/64f34471-c31d-4969-afd1-bd47b9ae64a6/1/1/THEPLAYERSIV.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=9c8f13ab895961f48abae5791746fff982ce5139342afc660d95faaa87da61f4)
The Players IV
Acrylic on wood panel
16 x 20 x 1.5 in
2018
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3264,2440,3264,1200/0-0-0/534b5499-d23b-477a-9d5e-b811a7376edc/1/1/ThePlayersV.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=e7c629722b853072deb2312aeec30c1ac112dbf9462f3514b16747dc3fb74d03)
The Players V
Acrylic on wood panel
9 x 12 x 1.5 in
2019
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3034,2190,3034,1200/0-0-0/541fdd3c-ce91-4c83-9660-6597fec9aa18/1/1/JULY_201913160.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=8e20427f28f1bfffb48cb5aa2f11d57efd3445ca1f33ed60170f2b7d48329ff2)
The Players VI
Marker on paper
8 x 11 in
2019
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3326,2660,3326,1200/0-0-0/8151f81a-785d-468e-9526-fae8dfb1f379/1/1/ThePlayersVII.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=ec29615770582c73f9258a8f7f91378aa8ebb70519c2f91c5101332c35f8890b)
The Players VII
Acrylic on wood panel
16 x 20 x 1.5 in
2019
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,1400,1016,1400,1200/0-0-0/922bdc6b-3a6c-4dfa-a234-ba4ee317b104/1/1/CardPlayers_1AAsdasddsds.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=2576bcb1286afa87e51e228d702bedb107ef1f41c2e8c7a5e0c05fa5c8787a14)
Card Players I
Acrylic on paper
8 x 11 in
2018
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3454,2561,3454,1200/0-0-0/26833f06-6a30-415d-ac3a-1ee6f3e366b2/1/1/CARDPLAYERS_2.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=c630003e8030f162752f3a2dacd04b929b9e35ae9901df3aef27062b76da4d86)
Card Players II
Acrylic on paper
8 x 11 in
2019
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3504,2525,3504,1200/0-0-0/b89742b5-749a-4445-8799-65f806d41f85/1/1/JULY_201913164.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=36b4c6253588516149f763efdc69482cd2601aad18e2039dd3cabcaf652d07d7)
The Card Players III
Acrylic on paper
8 x 11 in
2019
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,1400,1011,1400,1200/0-0-0/09c7a1de-c6c2-4e50-bb5c-50f254700708/1/1/TheGathering_asasa.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=72fcd64d984000a8085f2cbdceb4f83dd2ac401a324e05e03ca98cda4e699044)
The Gathering
Acrylic on paper
11 x 14 in
2018
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3494,2532,3494,1200/0-0-0/082f7284-93f3-41f2-ba30-15a04719c4ef/1/1/JULY_201913159.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=3ec2d5477e75cc5430e5d271b079b2840de3976d476819bc29a8c3a27311cf6c)
The Big Bash
Marker on paper
8 x 11 in
2019
Private Collection![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3313,2670,3313,1200/0-0-0/bbdbad6e-accb-47fc-8bf1-254c569ade95/1/1/THE_OLD_MAN_AND_THE_BAR.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=83fd996fcaf7978aba49801cd980c24615e548bcfecc0025c18e85a6d787fc29)
The Old Man and the Bar
Acrylic on wood panel
16 x 20 x 1.5 in
2018
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,2667,3318,1600,3318/0-0-0/d8e42b07-a686-4825-9b18-a3efcc17778d/1/1/THE_LUNCHEON.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=f0ad39d11f9a0593ac545481efd91e2027ce856ec007ae05230e3cd58871f84d)
The Luncheon
Acrylic on wood panel
16 x 20 x 1.5 in
2018
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,2990,2371,2990,1200/0-0-0/333461c6-b934-4724-bd28-2f2f94933278/1/1/MidnightChampagne.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=6992efa4640456db97effc8c66ced5b4a3ec1a142e41856a189ea2d8b651bc49)
Midnight Champagne
Acrylic on wood panel
16 x 20 x 1.5 in
2018
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,1400,1893,1600,1893/0-0-0/aff73bd1-0e0b-4b20-a614-cdbc9ac62622/1/1/BlueStudy_revisited_dddsasasas.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=820bd81caa8649dc2725239da8cba8d999fc6b42984a49cb4fb7f774c213de01)
The Ritual
Acrylic on paper
11 x 8 in
2018
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,2562,3454,1600,3454/0-0-0/a4e603e1-97fb-4c6b-ba2e-1c4786059a0e/1/1/Ladies_Night.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=745a5dae89ea90688d8e0187eebe910daf0c57f9df4a46da3ccb4598e48c4be8)
Ladies Night
Acrylic on wood panel
12 x 16 x 1.5 in
2018
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,2535,3490,1600,3490/0-0-0/48fef249-c23e-40f5-a737-6281bab02c56/1/1/JULY_201913162a.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=d011fa1edc483bf8cd12016bf9a4a1785694490d66e7e700dc646461b990048d)
Ladies Night II
Acrylic on paper
11 x 8 in
2019
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3435,2575,3435,1200/0-0-0/1f79371f-7b81-4814-a0e8-65d45e0d6ffd/1/1/CLOSING_TIME.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=d9e8fd6773267bb194c91ce619baedb942f90545b3d0e0ce64f7264fd01803ce)
Closing Time
Acrylic on wood panel
12 x 16 x 1.5 in
2018
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,3228,2456,3228,1200/0-0-0/559f4f07-5679-4f34-94c1-40a8f7fd15e9/1/1/RememberWhen.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=6783d802aa7e2ade00085918ddf311183e968c4dcaaa1edf2a7f57b6205e2848)
Remember When
Acrylic on wood panel
12 x 16 x 1.5 in
2018
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,2974,2239,2974,1200/0-0-0/6eca36a7-602c-47f7-ad1a-342f04bcc9d0/1/1/goodOlDAys.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=40a36b0d9c76b1aef4099f50cddc39af85d9f6dadb99970465862d6f035ca633)
The Good Ol’ Days
Acrylic on wood panel
12 x 16 x 1.5 in
2018
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,2402,1800,2402,1200/0-0-0/2a353d0e-a67f-41ca-8328-4c1b466c9b72/1/1/JAN_20182369.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=d519046bac656ac360bb8541d785fd0a4a660a8d5d29eae44e794ca33b0256e0)
Late Nights
Acrylic on wood panel
12 x 16 x 1.5 in
2018
Private Collection
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/eb9d0920-c7ef-4608-b3d4-95b64185fdd4/0/0/0/0,0,2391,1800,2391,1200/0-0-0/9400fa06-05cf-40e2-b805-049e0a45cd1e/1/1/JAN_20182366.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037265246~hmac=2b3ddbd3e28475ce3e30e7c5db0b3e355ce41754512d8903b56a79f31865a2a0)
GG and the Gals
Acrylic on wood panel
12 x 9 x 1.5 in
2017
Private Collection