Kareem Iliya, 1967 ~ Fashion watercolor designer

Lebanese-born American artist Kareem Iliya was born in Beirut, Lebanon. He moved to Texas in 1976 and studied fashion design initially at the University of Texas, Austin, USA. Then he continued his studies at the Institute of Fashion Technology, in New York. He graduated in 1990. Kareem is now living in New York, USA.
Kareem started his fashion career workjing with Giorgio Armani, and from 1992 also freelanced as an illustrator.

His work has been featured in Mademoiselle, Illustration magazine in Japan, Metropolitan Home, The New Yorker, Visionnaire, W Magazine and Harper's Bazaar. His corporate clients include Bergdorf Goodman, Barney's New York, Kenneth Cole Shoes, Catherine Malandrino and Romeo Gigli, New York.

Iliya has illustrated several books including "Nouvelle Pornography" by Marie Nimier, "Slow Hand" by Michele Slung, and "Moetsukiru Made" written by Kei Yikawa.
Iliya's work has also appeared on CNN TV show "Style with Elsa Klensch" and he has exhibited at the "Art 54" and Seed galleries in New York. His work was prominently featured in Nicholas Drake's book "Illustration Today".
His medium is watercolour and inks on paper. Kareem Iliya's images are hauntingly full of grace and mystery. In addition to being an illustrator, Kareem Iliya is also a menswear designer.

"Iliya's work is usually described as being 'ethereal' and 'mystical'. He works with watercolor and ink on paper, often in vibrant colors through which figures and objects seem to burst and radiate".