Oussama Baalbaki

Born in Beirut, Oussama Baalbaki is an award-winning Lebanese painter who was born into a family of talented musicians and visual artists. The son of the artist and writer Abdul Hamid Baalbaki, he studied at the Institute of Fine Arts, Lebanese University, receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in 2002. 

Oussama Baalbaki is known for creating photo-realistic paintings, often featuring a solitary detailed element that conveys deep-rooted, meaningful messages. In his artistic process, he combines expressive brushstrokes with the luminous, pale colour palettes favoured by the Impressionists, which he uses to capture a range of subjects spanning rural scenes, seascapes and city skylines. The glorious colours of dawn and dusk skies are hallmark features of his work, providing dream-like captivating backdrops to a diverse range of hyper-realistic subject matter that ranges from billboards and vehicles to figures, including self-portraits. These incorporated elements give Baalbaki’s paintings a sense of a moment in time captured, fleetingly and snapshot-like, reminding us of their affinity with photographic art.

Oussama Baalbaki’s works can be found in prestigious collections that include: the Dalloul Art Foundation, Beirut; the Lebanese National Collection, Beirut; and the Mokbel Art Collection, Beirut. His work has also been featured on several book covers.

Baalbaki’s paintings have featured in several solo exhibitions, including: ‘Oussama Baalbaki: An Inner Light’, Saleh Barakat Gallery, Beirut (2024); ‘Watercolors’, Agial Art Gallery, Beirut (2019); ‘Against the Grain’, Saleh Barakat Gallery, Beirut (2018); ‘Pleadings of the Light’, Agial Art Gallery, Beirut (2017); ‘Spectres of the Real’, Agial Art Gallery, Beirut (2016); ‘Shadows of Gloominess’, Galerie Tanit with Agial Art Gallery, Beirut (2014); ‘Rituals of Isolation’, Agial Art Gallery, Beirut (2011); ‘Less smoke, and more…,’ Agial Art Gallery, Beirut (2009); ‘Scenes of Isolation’, Safana Gallery, Beirut (2007); and ‘Paintings in Black’, Dar El Nadwa, Beirut (2004).

He has also taken part in several group exhibitions worldwide, including: ‘Lebanese Landscapes’, Agial Art Gallery, Beirut (2024); ‘Lebanon | Untitled’, Artscoops and Janet Rady Fine Art, London (2023); ‘Mini Mighty’, Fann A Porter, Dubai (2022); ‘Works on Paper’, Agial Art Gallery, Beirut (2022);’ Tales, Myths, and Legends’, Galerie Tanit, Beirut (2022); ‘Un Bestiaire’, Galerie Tanit, Beirut (2021, 2020); ‘Out of Context’, Saleh Barakat Gallery, Beirut (2019); ‘Face Value: Portraiture’, Saleh Barakat Gallery, Beirut (2018); ‘Thin Skin: Six Artists from Beirut’, Taymour Grahne Gallery, Tribeca, US (2014); ‘Pen to Paper’, Athr Gallery, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2013); and ‘Sneak PostView’, Green Art Gallery, Dubai (2010). 

Other high-profile events he has taken part in include art fairs in Dubai and Cairo, and exhibitions at the Sursock Museum, Beirut. 

In 2009, Baalbaki won the silver medal for painting at the ‘Jeux de la Francophonie’. He lives and works in Beirut.