Rima Jabbur is a figurative painter whose work bridges classical tradition and contemporary inquiry. With roots in philosophy and a lifelong fascination with the human form, her practice explores the emotional and psychological depths of portraiture and the narrative possibilities of the figure in space.

Jabbur studied philosophy at Cornell University before turning to visual art. Her early training included drawing and painting courses at the San Francisco Art Institute and the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), where she was drawn to perceptual realism and rigorous academic foundations. Encouraged by mentors like Abby Sangiamo and influenced by masters from the Italian Renaissance to Odd Nerdrum, she developed a richly layered painting process grounded in observation, anatomy, and classical technique.

Her work often begins with a chromatic underpainting and evolves through subtle shifts in color and form, balancing realism with abstract design. Whether working from life or photographic references, she seeks not merely to depict but to evoke—a person, a mood, or a fragment of narrative unfolding across the surface.

Jabbur has exhibited internationally and continues to teach and paint with a commitment to skill, storytelling, and the poetic ambiguity of the human presence.