Tulsa Artist Mazen Abufadil Showcases 'Organism and Energy' Exhibit at FAC Gallery

Abufadil's photofresco artworks explore themes of life, death and consumption through experimental printmaking techniques.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Tulsa-based artist Mazen Abufadil is showcasing his exhibit 'Organism and Energy' at the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center's gallery. The exhibit features Abufadil's photofresco artworks, which combine photography and fresco techniques to explore themes of life, death and human consumption. Abufadil has been experimenting with this unique printmaking process since the 1990s, taking apart printer rollers to guide thin paper as it prints directly onto plaster surfaces, which he then draws and paints on.

Why it matters

Abufadil's exhibit provides a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition, examining our roles as both consumers and the consumed. His use of everyday objects like banana peels, chicken bones and pebbles highlights how we often overlook the inherent value in simple things. The fragility of the photofresco medium also mirrors the precarious nature of life itself.

The details

Abufadil, who is originally from Beirut, Lebanon, has worked with a variety of art forms over the years but has gravitated towards printmaking and photography. Inspired by American artist Robert Rauschenberg, he began experimenting with combining printmaking and fresco techniques in the 1990s. Abufadil's unique process involves taking apart printer rollers to guide thin paper as it prints directly onto plaster surfaces, which he then draws and paints on to create the final photofresco artworks.

  • Abufadil has been experimenting with his photofresco technique since the 1990s.
  • The artworks in the 'Organism and Energy' exhibit are a culmination of three years' worth of work.

The players

Mazen Abufadil

A Tulsa-based artist originally from Beirut, Lebanon, who is showcasing his 'Organism and Energy' exhibit featuring photofresco artworks exploring themes of life, death and consumption.

Robert Rauschenberg

An American graphic artist who inspired Abufadil to begin experimenting with combining printmaking and fresco techniques.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“That's all I wanted to do when I was in class, that was my thing. I wanted to draw, I wanted to use paints, I wanted to use clay, and I never stopped.”

— Mazen Abufadil, Artist (wkuherald.com)

“I saw a fresco he did that incorporated some oxidation from one of (the) printmaking plates and transferred into (a) fresco. I realized I could probably do the same thing with my inks in my printmaking facility without having a press.”

— Mazen Abufadil, Artist (wkuherald.com)

“So we are (in) this kind of revolution of being the consumer and the consumed. All objects around us are kind of an integral part of this ring of consumption, and we discount some of the most simple objects, like a small, little pebble, but it's amazingly valuable.”

— Mazen Abufadil, Artist (wkuherald.com)

What’s next

The 'Organism and Energy' exhibit will be on display at the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center gallery through the end of March.

The takeaway

Abufadil's thought-provoking photofresco artworks challenge viewers to reconsider their relationship with the world around them, highlighting the fragility of life and the cyclical nature of consumption in a visually striking and experimental medium.