About

Mario Saba (1962-2011) was born in Tripoli, Lebanon, and studied interior decoration and architecture before specializing in painting in Russia.

Saba considers himself an experimental artist and has explored a variety of techniques and artistic approaches, such as painting, photography, and mixed media installations.

Through his art, he seeks to express the memories of the Lebanese civil war in the post-conflict period. His paintings often take as a starting point an architectural rendering of an urban scene, which he overlays with abstract symbols and sometimes written words.

Saba has also worked in graphic design for Lebanese television stations, magazines and publishing houses, and taught art installation for movies at Kaslik University in Lebanon. His solo shows have taken place in Tripoli, Beirut and London.

Since 1992, he has also participated in collective exhibitions in Lebanon, Dubai, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Paris, Brussels and Varna (Bulgaria). In 1989, he established his own workshop “L’Atelier”, where he worked and used it as a permanent show room.

Through the years:

1986-1998 Worked in “graphic design”, such as:  animated advertisement for local TV’s, artistic direction for local magazines and designing of book covers for several publishers in Beirut.

1989-1992 Teaches Arts in an American school in Tripoli, for different levels.

1995-2001 In charge of “Art & Creativity” at the University of St. Joseph - Lebanon.

1994-2007 Designed several artistic decorations for special private places & created a back stage decoration (scenery) for many theatrical classical scenes.

Since 1997 Full member artist in Nicolas Sursock museum Beirut – Lebanon.

2005 Art installation Teacher for Films at Kaslik University (audio visual department) and assisted as an art director in the realization of the student’s final project (12min movie, based on a short story written by the Lebanese writer Rashid Daiif, performed by professional  Lebanese  movie actors. 

2004-2010 Art photography for the UOB PR department. 

2004-2007 Artistic Photography, Monasteries of the ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE's  book.

2006-2010 Teaches  art Installation and basic design at MUT- Tripoli

2010-2011 Artistic Photography, Tripoli, City of all eras's book.

Personal Exhibition

2018   A Retrospective, UOB expo salon.

2008  Utopia, the Babylon syndrome, UOB expo salon.

2007  The WWW intake Rome, installation, El Mina park - Lb 

2000  The end of the beginning, installation Épreuve d’Artiste gallery, Beirut – Lebanon,

1997  Épreuve d’Artist gallery, Beirut – Lebanon

1995  Le Tourbillon, conceptual structure (7x4 m) near the sea,   Tripoli – Lebanon.

1995  La Mairie Hotel, Ehden - Lebanon

1994  Argile Art Gallery, London - UK

1994  Agial gallery, Beirut – Lebanon

1994  Le Jardin gallery, Tripoli - Lebanon

1992  Agial gallery, Beirut – Lebanon

1991  Al-Rabita Al-Sakafia, Tripoli - Lebanon

Collective Exhibitions

2011  The tree of knowledge, MENASArt Fair 2011

 2011  Salon d’Automne, Nicolas Sursok museum, Beirut-Lb(jury prize)              

2010  Fragment of The Temple art installation. Show off-Paris

2010  The Temple, multimedia art installation, Katzen Museum, Washington DC                                                                                             

2009  Sartan galery, Beirut - Lebanon

2009  Salon d’Automne, Nicolas Sursok museum, Beirut-Lb

2008  Al Imarate Bi Ouyoun Arabiah - Dubai             

2007  The WWW from inside-up - installation in MUT

2007  Salon d’Automne, Nicolas Sursok museum, Beirut - Lb

2006  Salon d’Automne, Nicolas Sursok museum, Beirut - Lb

2006  Pinceaux Pour Plume, Nicolas Sursok museum, Beirut - Lb

2004  Salon d’Automne, Nicolas Sursok museum, Beirut - Lb

2004 Conceptual art installation, Studies, International Fair, Tripoli - Lb. 

2003  Symposium Minyara - Lebanon

2003  Municipality of Tripoli - Lebanon    

2003 Off Blue, art installation, Byblos festival - Lebanon .

2002  Wax sculptures, Ice house. USA - Pennsylvania

2001  Wallonie-Brussels center – Paris, art Installation Xème  Festival Francophonie Métissée

2001  Salon d’Automne, Nicolas Sursock museum, Beirut- Lebanon

Since 2000 Permanent show in Shipka hotel, Varna-Bulgaria

2000  Installation, MLF, Tripoli – Lebanon

2000  Installation, Artuel, contemporary Arts, Beirut – Lebanon

2000  Épreuve d’Artist gallery, Beirut – Lebanon

1999  International forum of interior design FIAD, Beirut – Lebanon

1999  Salon d’Automne, Nicolas Sursock museum, Beirut- Lebanon

1998  I.C. Beirut - Lebanon

1997  The WWW, ALITA – Lebanon, art Installation

1997  Salon du Printemps, Forum of Beirut - Lebanon

1998  Salon d’Automne, Nicolas Sursock museum, Beirut- Lebanon

1997  Cultural board, Municipality of Tripoli - Lebanon

1997  Épreuve d’Artiste gallery, Beirut – Lebanon

1997  Salon d’Automne, Nicolas Sursock museum, Beirut- Lebanon

1996  Épreuve d’Artiste gallery, Beirut – Lebanon

1996  El-Hamra Festival, Beirut - Lebanon

1996  World of Art Gallery, Beirut – Lebanon

1996  Entretemps gallery, Beirut - Lebanon

1996  Salon d’Automne, Nicolas Sursock museum, Beirut- Lebanon

1995  Art Festival, El-Dawha - Katar

1995  Daraj El-Fan, Beirut - Lebanon

1995  SAD, Beirut - Lebanon

1995  Abstract Painting in Lebanese Art, BUC, Beirut - Lebanon

1995  Salon d’Automne, Nicolas Sursock museum, Beirut- Lebanon

1993  Le Jardin gallery, Tripoli - Lebanon

1992  Art festival, Beirut, Ehden, Zalka - Lebanon

1992  Salon d’Automne, Nicolas Sursock museum, Beirut- Lebanon