Hussein Madi

Biography

Hussein Madi (1938 – 2024 Chebaa, Lebanon) studied at the Académie Libanaise des Beaux Arts in Beirut and after working in Baghdad as an illustrator and cartoonist for a short period, he moved to Rome in 1963 to complete his studies at the Accademia di Belle Arti and the Accademia di San Giacomo. Based between Rome and Beirut during the 1970s and 1980s, he was inspired by his research into the cultural heritage of the Levant and Egypt, and by the Old Masters’ techniques in frescoes, mosaics and bronze sculpture. Madi went on to research the history of the Arabic language and taught sculpture and engraving at the Lebanese University and the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts.

Madi’s works have been featured at the British Museum, and he has participated in Biennales in Venice, Alexandria, Cairo and São Paulo. His works can be found in major international institutions including the British Museum, The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, the Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, the Dalloul Art Foundation and the Sursock Museum, Beirut, L’Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris and the Sharjah Museum.

Since 1964 Madi has been living between Beirut and Rome.