Over a 35 year career, Mark Abouzeid has worked in International Economics, Technology Development, Innovation Theory, Photojournalism, Documentary Filmmaking and Cultural Heritage.
Born in Princeton, N.J., to a Lebanese father and Irish-American mother, Mark Abouzeid moved countries for the first time at 10 months of age. Since then, he has lived and worked in over 35 countries including the polar arctic, bedouin deserts and countless seas.
His photos and feature articles have appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times, The Huntington Post, The Atlantic, New European, Daily Mirror, Sydney Morning Herald, Adventure Magazine and Forbes
In 2002, he was awarded a Prize for Peace from the region of Puglia for his photographic exhibit, “My Enemy My Brother”. His film about discovering his own heritage, “Finding My Lebanon”, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016. Subsequent short films have won awards in the US, France, India, Australia, and Lebanon.
Abouzeid is most known for his series of portraits of modern-day, immigrant Florentines, placed into the poses, costumes, and props of classic Florentine paintings.
In 2012, Mark Abouzeid curated “The New New World” exhibition in one of the most important art spaces in Florence, the Palazzo Vecchio. In addition to their hard work labour, a collective of international artists contributed their passion for this project. The exhibition’s intent was a constructive response to the immediate crisis caused by racist attacks in the city.
“The idea wasn’t to copy the originals — if that’s what he had wanted, he could have done so much more easily and with much more exacting results in Photoshop — he explained to me over email, but “to renew these subjects in a way to confront them with their predecessors.” By placing these extracomunitari into the artistic and material representation of Italy, he could make them a part of it.”
Rebecca Rosen, The Atlantic, April 4, 2013
Currently, he is the founder of Cedars Productions and Director of Filmmaking for Real Lives Multicultural Association. His films have received recognition at festivals around the world including Australia, France, India, Lebanon and the U.S.
Mark, I have just seen your “Finding My Lebanon” online. Remarkable. How sweet to see you speaking with your father and to see early pictures of Sandy, George and you kids together. Our families brief connection in Mendham, your father’s part in bringing Bon and Dave to Greece, shared times in Rumson with Sandy and George, however short lived, were wonderful for all of us, in many ways. My dad, Herb Kent, passed in January 2016. Ruth is 96. She will love your story. I was sorry to read of both your parent’s passing, but happy to have had our lives cross and intertwine in the interesting ways it did. Bravo. Gotta love a black sheep. Best to all you Abouzeids, Joyce (Kent) Lawrence
Are you the Kents who lived on Mountainside Road? We used to celebrate some holidays together? Your father was a major force in my life. I used to visit him in the workshop, spending hours watching him work and realizing how much artisan craft meant to me. He is the reason I spend most of my time with traditional & artisan communities. I will never forget him. If this is the wrong Kent, excuse me…life is long and sometimes things get muddled.
Funny to think that I never knew your father’s first name…just Mr Kent?!
Yes, Mountainside Road. I came across your MTV Wall of Fame interview this week when thinking of your family. Delightful. Forwarded to Bonnie who let me know you replied to my comment. I never knew. How sweet to hear your thoughts of Dad and his love of working with his hands. George certainly opened our minds to the world beyond Mendham. Two good men. Nice.
Yes, Mountainside Road. I came across your MTV Wall of Fame interview this week when thinking of your family. Delightful. Forwarded to Bonnie who let me know you replied to my comment. I never knew. How sweet to hear your thoughts of Dad and his love of working with his hands. George certainly opened our minds to the world beyond Mendham. Two good men. Nice.
Would this be the Kent family of Mountainside Road? If so, I remember Ron Kent. My most favorable memory was when riding by on my bike, a great St. Bernard came chasing me from near the front porch. As my pulse rapidly increased and flight ensued, I heard a shout and turned in time to see Ron bean the dog with a rock, upon whence the dog wheeled around and let me pass. Thank you, Ron!!!
After commenting on your beautiful “Finding my Lebanon” film, Mark, sadly Covid came and disrupted all our lives. Time passed, as did mom, on 7/28/21. A few days ago, I thought of you Abouzeids out of the blue, which brought me to your MTV Wall of Fame interview. Delightful. I forwarded to Bonnie, and she called to tell me you had replied to my comment. How sweet to hear that watching Dad craft things in his White Barn connected with you, perhaps providing an early trajectory of your inquisitive mind. Many passerby’s loved chatting with him there as he created and fixed things. It was his Zen den. 🙂
As to Ronnie “beaning” our dog with a rock OMG! Poor Twiggy! Glen, you weren’t the only one to be fearful of being eaten alive by this gentle giant with a big bark. Mom had to save many a delivery driver afraid to get out of their truck. Twiggy preferred to eat the bantam chicken eggs she found freely in our barn.