Dalia Baassiri

I am a Lebanese visual artist born in Sidon in 1981. I graduated in 2003 from the Lebanese American University in Beirut with a BS in Graphic Design and obtained an MA in Fine Art in 2012 from Chelsea College of Arts in London. 

Having grown up during the civil war, I question the relationship with a country in continuous conflict. How does one identify with a land while having spent most of childhood indoors? In my interdisciplinary work ranging from drawing, painting to sculpture, I find refuge and answers within the parameters of my own home. The world of the domestic, from dust to walls and everything in between, has become the most familiar fertile ground for artistic discourse. 

My work has been showcased in both national and international platforms among them; Mathaf; Arab Museum of Modern Art (Doha),Galerie Janine Rubeiz (Beirut), Beirut Art Fair, Art Dubai, Abu Dhabi Art Fair, the Ayyam Young Collectors’ Auction (Dubai), Isabelle Gallery (Dubai), Menart Fair (Paris), Galerie Odile Ouizeman (Paris), Luxembourg Art Week (Luxembourg), Stand4 Gallery and Community Art Center (Brooklyn NY), Sculpture Space (Utica NY), Arsenale Nord (Venice), Villa Romana (Florence), Espronceda Institute of Art and Culture (Barcelona), OXO Tower Wharf (London), Kempinski (Berlin) and many more. My main first solo Exhibition in Lebanon “Wiped off” took place in 2017 at Galerie Janine Rubeiz where my work is permanently exhibited. 

I have been awarded by Fabriano, Maraya, and the Lebanese Web Design. My sculptures have been finalists for the Celeste Prize 9th ed. in 2017 in London as well as the Arte Laguna Prize 13th ed. in 2019 in Venice. I have also been granted multiple art residencies starting with a dual fellowship in 2015 at Kempinki (Berlin) and Siena Art Institute in Italy granted by Kempinski Young Artist Program, a dual residency in 2016 at Residency Unlimited in Brooklyn NY and Sculpture Space in Utica NY sponsored by ArteEast, a Residency at Fallani Venezia in Venice in 2018 awarded by Arte Laguna Prize 12th ed. and the latest residency, which was also awarded by Arte Laguna Prize 12th ed., was at Espronceda Institute of Art and Culture in Barcelona in 2018 where I had my solo exhibition “Vesuvius”. 

In 2021, I have been invited to take part in “Cities Under Quarantine; the Mailbox Project” by Dongola Books.

In this ambitious artist’s book project, the publishing house sent a blank handmade notebook to 59 artists around the world, and we made interventions on them. The books were on view in 2021 at Villa Romana (Florence) and recently at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art (Doha). 

In 2022, my artwork “Mount Neverest” has been acquired by Barjeel Art Foundation Sharjah, UAE. 

In 2023, I have been an artist in residence at Ashkal Alwan for 4 months from May to September during which I worked on a new body of work which was exhibited at my solo exhibition “The Harvest” at Galerie Janine Rubeiz in Beirut in June/July 2024. Later on, I took part on September 3rd till October 26th in a group exhibition “I Wish to be Happy, I Want to be Yellow” curated by Jad Karam at gallery Isabelle at Alserkal Avenue in Dubai. 

Last but not least, both Dalloul Art Foundation and Saradar Collection in Beirut have acquired one artwork each from the Harvest body of work.