On Black Collection
On Black Collection
By Christelle N. Cortbawi - B for Balo
In Artworks
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ON BLACK (2021-2024) By Christelle N. CORTBAWI
"On Black" was created from the idea that when life presents a black page, it is still possible to respond with color.
Drawn on black cardstock using neon and metallic ink markers, the works develop intuitively, through rhythm and repetition. Lines accumulate slowly, forming patterns that evoke movement, light, and organic growth.
The black surface is not treated as absence, but as a starting point - a space where color emerges deliberately, transforming stillness into presence.
Dragon Flow
Metallic ink markers on black cardstock, 19 × 19 cm
Framed between two glass panes with a wooden frame, 35 × 35 cm, 2023
Predominantly gold in tone, this work moves horizontally, unfolding in wave-like sequences. Accents of blue and contrasting colors punctuate the surface, activating serpentine patterns and fleeting animal forms.
The drawing carries a festive, almost ceremonial energy, where the dragon appears not as a figure, but as a flowing presence — moving, shifting, and alive.
Year of the Dragon
Metallic ink markers on black cardstock, 19 × 19 cm
Framed between two glass panes with a wooden frame, 35 × 35 cm, 2023
Structured around a central point, the composition gathers energy before releasing it outward through intersecting lines. Gold dominates the surface, while sharp strokes of color intensify the sense of focus and tension.
Eyes, scales, and animal fragments cluster around the core, suggesting a dragon-like presence forming from within — concentrated, watchful, and powerful.
Coral Convergence
Neon ink markers on black cardstock, 19 × 19 cm
Framed between two glass panes with a wooden frame, 35 × 35 cm, 2022
Composed entirely of straight geometric lines in shades of neon pink, fuchsia, and orange, this work converges toward a focal point placed at the side of the composition. The rigid lines meet precisely yet create a sense of tension and direction, guiding the eye across the surface.
Though the forms are structured and geometric, the vibrant neon colors infuse energy and movement, making the drawing feel dynamic and alive.
Confetty
Neon ink markers on black cardstock, 19 × 19 cm
Framed between two glass panes with a wooden frame, 35 × 35 cm, 2022
Small geometric shapes — squares, circles, tiny leaves, and stars — flow across the black surface in wave-like sequences. Neon shades of pink, fuchsia, and orange create contrast and rhythm, giving movement to otherwise rigid forms.
The composition evokes a confetti-like effect, playful and celebratory, balancing order and energy as the eye follows the undulating pattern across the drawing.
About Christelle N. Cortbawi - B for Balo
Christelle N. Cortbawi is a Lebanese-born multifaceted artist. Her work is a fusion of art and fashion. She began her career as a ready-to-wear fashion designer. In her early projects, she focused on brand building and fashion retail distribution, where she collaborated with numerous regional and international brands. Later on, she experimented with painting, a hobby that redefined different aspects of her perception. As a double major graduate with honors in fashion design and pattern making from ESMOD Beirut, and an MBA holder from the University of Liverpool, her talent was recognized by numerous local and international references, including the Mediterranean Fashion Institute (France) and the L'Oréal Color Design Award. She aims to merge art and fashion to create unique lifestyle pieces ranging from wearable art and fashion accessories to home decor. She creates, personalizes, innovates, and tailors objects and collections that mirror every style on a personal and corporate scale.
Christelle has been part of the Kulturnest community through its Christmas Market and its concept store since late 2025.