B. 1924 - D. 2006
Alfred Basbous's works express a lifelong exploration of the human form and its abstract properties. Focused on the aesthetic principles of shape, movement, line and material, his sculptures display a deeply ingrained sincerity and a search for the essence of beauty. Working in the tradition of sculptors such as Jean Arp, Constantin Brâncuși and Henry Moore, Alfred Basbous explores the potential of noble materials such as bronze, wood and marble to express the sensuality and purity of the human form. This aversion towards frivolous and meaningless embellishments echoes the artist's philosophy rooted in simplicity and earnestness.
His first exhibition in Beirut, at the Alecco Saab gallery in 1958, marked the beginning of a long and significant trajectory as a sculptor.
In 1960, he received a scholarship from the French government and became a pupil of the sculptor René Collamarini at 'The National Fine Arts School in Paris' (L'Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Paris). In 1961, his works were included in the International Sculpture Exhibition at the Musée Rodin, in Paris.
Between 1994 and 2004, Basbous organised the International Symposium of Sculpture in Rachana, Lebanon, where famous sculptors from around the world were invited to create, sculpt and exhibit their works alongside his own.
Throughout his life, Basbous won many awards including the "Prix de l'Orient" in Beirut in 1963 and the price of Biennale in Alexandria in 1974. When he died in 2006, the President of the Lebanese Republic, in order to honour him, awarded him the "Medal of the Lebanese Order of Merit" in gold.
The works of Alfred Basbous are part of numerous public collections throughout the world, including the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, the Musée Rodin in Paris, the Hakone Open-Air Museum in Japan and the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum (MACAM) in Lebanon, among others. His monumental works are present in the public areas of Beirut and many Lebanese cities.
EDUCATION
1960 Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021, Minimal Abstraction, Tabari Artspace, Abu Dhabi Art, UAE
2021, Figurative to Abstraction, Tabari Artspace, Cromwell Place, London
2017, Alfred Basbous: Modernist Pioneer - Selected Works, Sophia Contemporary Gallery, London
2016, Figurative to Abstraction, Tabari Artspace, Dubai
2015, Bronze Collection, Mark Hachem Gallery, Paris
2015, Dubai Modernist Pioneer, Tabari Artspace, Dubai
2014, Bronze Collection, Opera Gallery, Dubai
2014, Bronze Collection, Monte Carlo Beach Club, Abu Dhabi
2013, Bronze Collection, Monte Carlo Beach Club, Abu Dhabi
2012, Artist's Forum, Rachana
2011, Lebanese Parliament, Lebanon
2011, Libanpost Stamps, Basbous Brothers
1996, SNA building, Tabaris Beirut, Lebanon
1985, Rimal, Zouk Mosbeh, La Toile Gallery, Lebanon
1984, Halat, Halate Sur Mer Garden, Lebanon
1984, Elcir Gallery, Antelias, Beirut, Lebanon
1982, One Gallery, Zalka, Lebanon
1979, Damo Gallery, Antelias, Lebanon
1972, Contact Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
1970, Excelsior Hotel Garden, Beirut, Lebanon
1967, Amateur Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
1967, Modern Institute Garden in Lebanon, Fanar, Lebanon
1966, Phoenicia Hotel Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
Excelsior Hotel Garden, Beirut, Lebanon
1965, One Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
1962, Salle du Quotidien "L'Orient", Beirut, Lebanon
1959, Alecco Saab Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016, Sophia Contemporary Gallery, Summer Show, London, England
1998, Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, UAE
1998, Dubai Cultural Center, UAE
1998, Oman Gallery, Oman
1994, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, England
1993, Shroder & Asseili Gardens, London, England
1988, Kuwait Hilton International Hotel, Kuwait
1988, Platform International Gallery, Washington, United States
1982, Decoline Gallery, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
1980, Elcir Gallery, Mkalles, Lebanon
1977, Les Jardins du Quotidien Le Reveil, Jdeidet El Metn, Lebanon
1975, Jdeidet El Metn Roundabout, Lebanon
1974, Collamarini workshop at Rodin Museum in Paris, France
1974, UENO Museum, royal museum in the city of Tokyo, Japan
1974, Cheikh Pierre Gemayel caves in Bekfaya, Lebanon
1974, Cite Scoute, Smar Jbeil, Lebanon
1973, Starco Center, Beirut, Lebanon
1971, Souk Tawil, Beirut, Lebanon
1971, Open air exhibitions in Faubourg of Saint Honoré, Paris, France
1971, Halles Gallery, Paris, France
1962, Alecco Saab Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
1961, Rodin Museum, Paris, France
1961, Superior National School Of Fine Arts, Paris, France
BIENNALES
1974, Biennial of Alexandria, Egypt
PUBLIC SCULPTURE
2003, Public garden of Jdeidet municipality, Metn, Lebanon
2003, Garden of Zahlé Municipality, Lebanon
1992, Espace Center, Kaslik, Lebanon
1984, Halate Sur Mer Gardens, Lebanon
1984, Halate Public square, Tannourine, Lebanon
1981, Maison du Futur Garden, Naccache, Lebanon
1981, Antelias city entrance, Lebanon
1981, Zouk Mkayel Municipality gardens, Lebanon
1977, Les Jardins du Quotidien "Le Reveil", Lebanon
1977, Jdeidet El Metn, Lebanon
1977, Tabarja Beach garden, Tabarja, Lebanon
1973, Beirut port, Lebanon
1971, Rayfoun roundabout, Lebanon
1962, Municipality Garden, Zahlé, Lebanon
AWARDS
2006, Awarded the "Medal of the Lebanese Order of Merit in Gold" by the President of
the Lebanese Republic, Emile Lahoud
2005, Awarded "Commander the Order of Cedar" by the President of the Lebanese
Republic, Emile Lahoud
2004, Awarded the "National Medal of the Order of the Cedar, Officer Order (طباض)"
by the President of the Lebanese Republic, Emile Lahoud
1997, Honorary diploma of INSEAD
1996, Honorary diploma of Lions club
1994, Awarded the "Medal of the National Order of Cedar, order of Knight" by the
President of the Lebanese Republic, Elias Hraoui
1974, Biennale laureate of Alexandria, Egypt
1965, Honorary award at the autumn fair of Sursock Museum
1964, Honorary award at the autumn fair of Sursock Museum
1963 Prix de l'Orient Beirut, Lebanon
1963, Laureate of the East award, Lebanon
1961, First award at the Superior National school of Fine Arts, Paris
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK
Musée Rodin, Paris, France
Hakone Open-Air Museum, Hakone, Japan
Modern and Contemporary Art Museum (MACAM), Lebanon
Lebanese Parliament, Beirut, Lebanon
SELECTED PRESS
2019, Mojeh, Art Unleashed: Exploring Public Art In The Middle East
2017, Apollo, Celebrating Alfred Basbous, the artist who breathed life into Lebanese sculpture