OZ. Abstract Expressionist.
Olivier Zitoun is an abstract expressionist painter and seasoned healthcare technology executive whose artistic and professional paths reflect a rich journey of cultural transitions and innovations. As a second-generation immigrant - born in Paris to parents who emigrated from Tunisia - his work and life experiences are deeply informed by themes of movement, adaptation, and cultural synthesis.
Born in Paris to renowned abstract artist Gilbert Zitoun (1926-2019), Olivier grew up immersed in the world of abstract art, watching his father create a legacy of over 1000 paintings and drawings. After immigrating to San Francisco in 1996, making his own journey as an immigrant like his parents before him, Olivier began painting to maintain connection with his roots, drawing inspiration from his father's 1960s works that explored themes of displacement following his own immigration from Tunisia to France.
While building a successful career in technology and healthcare, Olivier's artistic practice flourished. His work has been exhibited at galleries in San Francisco's SOMA district and Berkeley, where he showcased over 30 paintings. Recently relocated to Brooklyn in 2024, he continues his artistic exploration from his Bushwick studio, creating works that engage with themes of transition and transformation.