Mansour El Habre

Mansour El Habre (b. 1970) is a multidisciplinary artist, born in Lebanon, who specialises in painting, printmaking and new media. He studied at the Institute of Fine Arts at the Lebanese University in Beirut, gaining a Bachelor of Art degree in 1994, before also achieving a Master’s from Balamand University.

El Habre’s dynamic paintings and works on paper are characterised by morphing or evolving human figures and distinctive geometric shapes that are juxtaposed and brought together in a vibrant palette. Often diverse in size and style, and featured in contrasting settings, his characters dominate the composition, seemingly in a state of heightened activity, giving the entire work a sense of excitement and frenetic movement.

El Habre’s work has been shown extensively in Lebanon and abroad. He has held several high-profile solo shows, including a landmark exhibition in 2022/2023 titled ‘Beau Négatif’ at Art on 56th gallery, Beirut. The artworks in this exhibition displayed El Habre’s signature depiction of space, with colourful fragmented shapes that are sometimes dispersed and at other times amassed, separated by a range of lines that vary from vague to sharp in delineation. 

In a commentary about the exhibition, Dr Abdo Boueiz noted that the longer the viewer observes the paintings, the more abstraction merges with realism. “Abstract forms begin to sport naturalistic qualities, with incomplete fragments forming hints of human characteristics, feeding into the antithetical spirit of the works,” he notes.

Mansour El Habre has also held several other solo exhibitions, most recently: ‘Conflit Intime’, the LT Gallery, Beirut (2021); ‘Home Life’, Janine Rubeiz Gallery, Beirut (2014); ‘Republicafé’, Janine Rubeiz Gallery, Beirut (2012); ‘Mysterious Ways’, Almarkhia Gallery, Qatar (2010); ‘Fiction’, Janine Rubeiz Gallery, Beirut (2008); ‘Scènes de Vie’, Janine Rubeiz Gallery, Beirut (2002); ‘Football’, Janine Rubeiz Gallery-Circus, Beirut (2002); and ‘Football’, Zico House, Beirut (2001).

Mansour El Habre has also taken part in several collectives and fairs, including:

Art Cairo, Grand Egyptian Museum, Art on 56th Gallery, Cairo, Egypt (2023); Art on 56th Gallery, Beirut (2022); MENA Art Fair, Cornitte de Saint Cyr, Paris (2022); ‘Home Life’, Janine Rubeiz Gallery, Beirut ( 2015); Beirut Art Fair, Lebanon (2013); ‘Convergence, New Art from Lebanon’, University of Washington’s Museum for Contemporary Art, Katzen Centre, Washington, US (2010); Abu Dhabi Art, Modern Art Fair, Janine Rubeiz Gallery, Abu Dhabi (2009); Art Dubai, Janine Rubeiz Gallery, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE (2009); ‘Artistes Libanais’, Janine Rubeiz Gallery and Dar Al Funoon, Kuwait (2009); Musée Nicolas Sursock, Beirut (2009); Al Markhiya Gallery, Souq Wakif, Qatar (2008); Pièces choisies de la Banque Audi, CCSS de Jamhour (2008); Janine Rubeiz Gallery, Beirut (2008); Triennale Internationale de Gravure, Ministère de la Culture, Rhodes, Greece (2008); ‘Lignes et Couleurs’, Galerie Janine Rubeiz, Beirut (2008); Lebanese Stories, DIFC, Dubai (2008); ‘Impressions sur Place’, Lithographie and Gravure, Centre Culturel Français, Beirut (2008); Art Lounge, Exposition Collective de 3 Artistes, Beirut (2006); ‘ Infijar’, 5’ Video, B.312 Gallery, Québec, Canada (2006); ‘Videplein’, 2 ‘29’ Video 2ème Festival International de Film et Vidéo de Création, Université de Balamand, Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA) (2006); Janine Rubeiz Gallery, collective exhibition, Mansour El Habre and Audic Rizk, Beirut (2006); ‘Coup d’Oœil: Passé et Présent I’, Janine Rubeiz Gallery, Beirut (2005); ‘Lebanon - The Artist’s View II’, BLA, Cork Street Galleries, Mayfair, London, UK (2004); ‘100 Shaheed’, (100 Lives), Unesco Palace, Beirut (2002); Sursock Museum, Beirut (1993 – 2001). 

Mansour El Habre also tutors at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA).

Clin d'Oeil - 2014 in Galerie Janine Rubeiz / Beirut / Lebanon

Convergence-New Art from Lebanon - 2010 in Katzen Art Center: College of Arts and Sciences / Washington DC / USA

- 2008 in Galerie Janine Rubeiz & Darat Al Funun / Amman / Jordan