Rachid Wehbe

Rachid Wehbe was a pioneering figure in contemporary art, born in Beirut in 1917. He attended El Makassed college for his secondary education and studied under Habib Srur from 1932 to 1936. Wehbe went on to join the College of Fine Arts in Cairo and graduated in 1945, later studying at the High Institute of Dramatic Art for two years. He traveled extensively throughout Europe, visiting countries such as Italy, France, Spain, USSR, England, Holland, Yugoslavia, Austria, and Greece. Wehbe organized and participated in numerous exhibitions both in Lebanon and abroad, with his first participation dating back to 1931. He was one of the founders of the Association of Lebanese Artists (Painting and Sculpture) in 1957, serving as secretary from 1957 to 1962 and president in 1962. Wehbe was also a professor of arts in various institutes and universities from 1947 onwards. He was recognized with the Decoration of Knowledge, first degree in 1956, the National Prize of Painting in 1971, and Said Akl’s prize in May 1972.