Ribal Molaeb

Ribal Molaeb (b. 1992) was born in Baissour, Lebanon, into an artistic family. The son of the renowned Lebanese artist Jamil Molaeb, he is both an accomplished musician and artist. 

Ribal moved to Salzburg, Austria, aged 17, to study at the Mozarteum University Salzburg. He later relocated to Vienna to further his studies at the University for Music and Performing Arts, where he gained a Master’s degree in Arts with distinction. Ribal was assigned the role of artistic director of Sumito Art and Music Association in Switzerland.

Having been personally trained in his visual art practice by his father, Ribal is heavily influenced by the leading Lebanese 20th century abstract expressionists, such as Saliba Douaihy, Aref el Rayes and Shafic Abboud. 

Now based in Zürich, he is known for producing paintings in bold oils, which he uses to create extraordinary colour gradations or merging lines, curves and forms with sharp, yet soft strokes. His musical education is a key influence, clearly evident in the rhythmic energy, tonal variations and harmonic and melodic elements he incorporates into his cleanly designed compositions, which are devoid of superfluous elements.

Nature’s serenity and beauty are favoured themes in many of Ribal’s artworks, with these paintings often recalling Lebanon through a warm colour palette that evokes the unique light and colour of the Lebanese mountains, Mediterranean, rural landscapes, sunrises and sunsets. 

Ribal Molaeb’s work has been the focus of several solo shows worldwide, including events at: Zürich International Art Fair (2024); Volta, Basel Art Fair (2024); Universal Artist Club, Zug, Switzerland (2024); Galerie Agénor, Zürich (2023); Orient Gallery, Amman, Jordan (2023); Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi (2023); Galerie Esther Woerdehoff, Geneva (2022); Galerie Agénor, Zürich (2022); Galerie Claude Lemand, Paris (2021); ZKO Gallery, Zürich (2021); Galerie Agénor, Zürich (2021); Galerie Janine Rubeiz, Beirut (2021); Sumito Kulturverein, Switzerland (2019); and Sonc Festival, Slovenia (2016).

He has also taken part in numerous collective shows, including, most recently, events at: Agial Art Gallery, Beirut (2024); Khawla Art Gallery, Dubai (2024); Lebanon Untitled, Cromwell Place, London (2023); Italian Embassy, Lebanon (2023); Artscoops, Beirut (2022); Treasures from the Middle East, Abu Dhabi (2022); Galerie Agénor, Zürich (2022); Art Paris with Galerie Esther Woerdehoff (2022); MENART Paris with Galerie Esther Woerdehoff (2022); Galerie Lalalande, Paris (2021); Artb, Dubai (2021); Galerie Janine Rubeiz, Beirut (2020); Selections Art, Dubai (2019); ME Art Gallery, Amsterdam (2018); and Art & Poster Gallery, Zürich (2017). 

Ribal Molaeb is the president of the Molaeb Art Museum and the founder of Molaeb Festival for Chamber Music and Fine Arts. He currently lives and works in Zürich.