Aref AL Rayess

Aref el Rayess (1928–2005) was a pioneering Lebanese artist who began painting at a young age and held his first exhibition in Beirut in 1948. He studied and worked between Paris, Senegal, and Italy, engaging with major modernist influences before returning to Lebanon.

In 1963, he represented Lebanon at the New York World’s Fair and later became a key cultural figure, co-founding the Fine Arts Department at the Lebanese University and Dar el Fan. His work increasingly reflected political engagement, particularly around Arab identity and conflict.

El Rayess produced paintings, sculptures, and drawings, including works on the Lebanese civil war and Palestine, and spent years creating public sculptures in Saudi Arabia. He remained active between Lebanon and the region until his death in 2005.