Rania Hammoud

Rania Hammoud is a Lebanese artist, interior architect and gallerist who was born and raised in Beirut, Hammoud studied at the Lebanese University’s Institute of Fine Arts, gaining a Master’s degree in Interior Architecture in 1993. Hammoud worked as an interior architect until 2014, before opening her Graphics Art studio in Ashrafieh, Lebanon. The studio provides a broad range of printmaking services, including silkscreen and etching, which Hammoud studied and gained expertise in herself at advanced workshops in Europe, including a number attended in the Netherlands. It also offers art classes, workshops and a hub where artists can come together to exchange ideas, create and collaborate. 

Rania Hammoud added another dimension to her work in 2017, when she opened a gallery in Gemmayzeh, named the Art Scene, to showcase the work of contemporary Middle Eastern artists. The gallery’s exhibits are wide ranging, encompassing paintings, sculptures and cutting-edge furniture. 

Educating people about art is also one of Hammoud’s passions, so much so that she has a reading corner at the gallery, well stocked with publications, and is always happy to answer questions on anything art related. “A gallery is not a mere business,” she commented in a media interview. “It is a place where one can learn about art.” 

Rania Hammoud often creates her works in a delightful combination of acrylic and silkscreen, which gives them a delicate, nostalgic and wistful feel, or mixed media on canvas.

Her ‘Corniche’ series is a particular talking point, having been inspired by the cross-section of people she has met over time during her habitual walks along Beirut’s famous promenade.