Haibat Balaa Bawab is a Lebanese artist mainly known for her collage artworks. Haibat Balaa weaves narratives of Beirut and its people in her collages and in her oil paintings. Born in the city and having lived in it all of her life, the day-to-day scenes have had an effect on her and were translated in the artworks through her own style of art. She assembles fragments gathered from popular sources, such as magazines, stamps and bills to chart the fabrics of the city. She composes figurative images using abstract media. Scenes from the village, the harvest and the old times come into her mind. Carpets, rugs and oriental tapestry are found as a reminder of times of serenity and relaxation and are thus a recurring theme in her artworks. From the haute bourgeoisie’s houses to the floral and polychromatic patterns of peasants, refugees and beggars, Balaa employs different cut-outs as a signifier status.
My artworks in Collage and Oil Paintings are varied, ranging from city scenes and local landscapes to heritage and nostalgia, that are reflections of topical issues and moments. I encounter it in day-to-day life. I’m inspired by what’s around me. Even when I travel, my work reflects my surroundings and my mood. ~ Haibat Balaa
Haibat Balaa (1952) received her BA in Fine Arts from Beirut University College now (the Lebanese American University) in 1975. She has taught in the Lebanese American University for 17 years. From 2001-2022 Balaa was the Fine Arts Coordinator at the American University of Science and Technology (AUST).
She has participated in collective exhibitions in AUB, LAU, ALBA, Haigazian, Galerie Rochane, Station Des Arts, Sursock Museum, Grand Palais de Paris, Cairo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrein, Kuwait, among others. She was invited to participate in the 8th Biennale in Beijing (2019).
Haibat Balaa held solo exhibitions at Amateur Gallery (1991), Epreuve d’Artist (1996), Espace SD (2006), Galerie Alwan (2010), AUST (2012), Art On 56th (2014) and Agial Gallery (2018), Art On 56th (2023), Khawla for Art and Culture in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (2023)
In 1982, she was awarded the first and only prize by the Central Bank of Lebanon for designing a new Lebanese currency. Also got the first and unique prize in the Makhoul show in 1979 and 1980.
A monograph of her work was published in 2012 titled “ Haibat Balaa Bawab: The Art of Collage”. Balaa composed AUST publications titled “Beyond the Medium I” and “Beyond the Medium II”.
Haibat Balaa is a member of the Lebanese Association of Painters and Sculptors and a member of the Artists Syndicate.
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