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by Alexandra Mansilla

Brilliants Of Lebanon: Exceptional Artists To Know

29 Sept 2024

I have talked to many people from Lebanon, and every single time — without exception — I have been fascinated by how bright, kind, and incredibly strong they are. That inner strength just can’t be hidden.
We have featured plenty of artists in our articles (and we will keep doing that), but now it is time to focus on Lebanese artists. So, I reached out to Mariana Wehbe, founder of We Design Beirut and her own brand, Mariana Wehbe Public Relations, to share some names we should all be paying attention to.

Chafa Ghaddar

Chafa Ghaddar is an artist who masterfully blurs the line between painting and fresco, combining contemporary techniques with the ancient art form to explore themes of time, impermanence, and memory. Born in Lebanon, her practice is deeply rooted in her connection to place and the emotional landscapes of her surroundings. Chafa’s work plays with the fragility of surfaces, using lime, plaster, and pigment to create pieces that feel both timeless and ephemeral.

Her frescoes are a meditation on the tension between creation and decay, where cracks and imperfections are not flaws, but integral to the narrative. Her process, which involves layering and stripping back, reflects the way memories fade and resurface.

Marc Guiragoussian

Marc Guiragossian’s paintings are known for their dynamic energy, combining elements of both modernity and tradition. As the grandson of renowned Neo-Expressionist Paul Guiragossian, Marc was influenced by his family's deep artistic roots from an early age. Inspired by the techniques and philosophies of master painters throughout history, he uses his work to open up a dialogue between different artistic traditions. For him, the evolution of art isn’t a straight line — it’s a never-ending exchange between past and present movements.

His works are full of movement, strength, and emotion, drawing on the expressive boldness of Fauvists like Henri Matisse and André Derain. What sets his work apart is the vibrant use of colour, gestural brushstrokes, and the way he captures the ongoing progression of modern painting. For Guiragossian, painting is more than just a craft — it’s a way to reflect on and engage with the ever-evolving nature of art itself.

Rola El Hussein

From a young age, Rola had a natural tendency to draw the objects she surrounded herself with, and over time, she realised the connection between that intimacy and her introverted nature. Her latest exhibition, which is her second solo show, reveals a more sarcastic side to her personality, showcasing a newfound freedom and bold sensitivity. This allows her to playfully explore anatomy alongside the everyday objects that fill her personal space. Her work is layered, with a transparency that embraces the playful possibilities of canvas, paper, paint, colour, and line.

Rola is also an accomplished novelist and poet, having published two novels and four poetry collections, the latest being The Planet of Short Times, released in 2023 by Dar Al Nahda Al Arabia. In addition to her literary work, she regularly writes for several websites.

Caline Aoun

Caline Aoun is an established and brilliant Lebanese artist, yet surprisingly, she is not as widely known as she deserves to be. Her work delves into the intersection of the digital and physical worlds, reflecting on how we navigate the constant flood of information in our hyperconnected lives. After studying at Central Saint Martins in London and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, she developed a unique approach that disrupts the nonstop stream of media and data, creating moments of quiet reflection. By playing with scale and texture, she transforms digital experiences into something tangible and human. Exhibiting her work internationally, Caline invites viewers to pause and notice the subtle, often overlooked details of our digital world, making us rethink how we interact with technology and the spaces around us.

Mohamad Abdallah

Mohamad Abdallah is an artist whose work beautifully explores the intersection of personal history and collective memory. Born in Lebanon, his art often reflects themes of identity, displacement, and the passage of time, drawing from both his own experiences and the broader socio-political context of the region. 

His pieces are a blend of the intimate and the universal, weaving together his personal narrative with reflections on the human condition. Through his use of texture, abstract forms, and evocative colours, he invites viewers to engage with the deeper stories and emotions within his work. 

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