Assia Massabki

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Assia Massabki is a Lebanese artist from the Southern village of Jezzine. She is recognized for her intricate colour collages that delve into the nuances of composition and form. Rather than focusing on political themes like many of her contemporaries, Massabki embraced a more introspective approach, exploring abstraction and emotional expression. Her art often delved into themes of nature, with sweeping, vivid strokes that suggested both power and serenity. Her canvases evoke an abstracted world, each piece conveying fragments of life through a delicate interplay of colour and texture. Soft and ornate, her works are visually inviting, encouraging viewers to engage with their layered meanings and subtle intricacies. After completing her diploma in interior design in 1979 at the Lebanese University, she pursued higher education in painting and drawing, earning distinction in 1990. Massabki’s work embodied a unique fusion of sculpture and painting, drawing from her experiences in Beirut’s dynamic artistic landscape. Since 1992, Massabki has participated in the Salon d’Automne in Paris, establishing her reputation within the art community. She received the Jury Prize at the 1995 Biennale Al Mahaba in Syria, underscoring her contributions to contemporary art. Her paintings have been exhibited in numerous solo and group shows in Lebanon and abroad, including notable venues in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, and Iran. Her works are part of esteemed collections, including the Sursock Museum and the Ministries of Culture in Lebanon and Syria. Until her passing in 2023, Massabki lived and worked between Beirut and other artistic centres contributing to the Lebanese art world through exhibitions and public collections