B. 1979
Painter, Tagreed Darghouth, uses abstract impressionism and impasto layers applied with gestural brushstrokes to tackle topics concerning structural violence, popular culture, and the marginalised.
Her modernist approach to contemporary topics conflates far-flung modes of inspiration. Darghouth mines the output of artists such as British portraitist Lucian Freud and controversial German artist Georg Baselitz as well as old masters such as Rembrandt Van Rijn and Gustave Courbet; and modernists Chaim Soutine and Willem De Kooning. Drawing influence and forming connections across cultures and time, she also regularly reflects upon figures from philosophy, music, literature and subaltern histories.
Darghouth studied Superior studies - Painting and Sculpting at the Lebanese University of Fine Art, Beirut, Lebanon in 2000 followed by Space Art at Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD), Paris, France in 2003. She trained under Syrian-German artist Marwan Kassab Bashi at Darat Al Funoun in Amman in 2000 and 2001. The artist has exhibited extensively internationally. Selected exhibitions include: Arteclassica ,3era. Feria de Arte, Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2006; Subtitled: With Narratives from Lebanon at the Royal College of Art in London in 2011; Re-orientation II, Rose Issa Project, London, UK in 2012; Thin Skin: Six Artists from Beirut at Taymour Grahne Gallery in New York in 2014; and 100 Chefs d’Oeuvre de L’Art Moderne et Contemporain Arabe, La Collection Barjeel, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France in 2017.
EDUCATION
2003, Space Art, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD), Paris, France
2000, Superior studies - Painting and Sculpting, Lebanese University of Fine Art, Beirut, Lebanon
2000, Diploma in Art Education, Teacher's Institution, Beirut, Lebanon
2000-2001, Ayloul's Summer Academy - Workshop for young Arab artists at Darat al Funun, directed by the artist Marwan Kassab Bachi, Amman, Jordan
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023, Gardens and Jungles, Tabari Artspace, Dubai, UAE
2022, A City Undisguised; Beirut: No Home No Exile, Cromwell Place, London
2020, Toys and Trophies: From Zeus's Pandora to Barbie Doll, Tabari Artspace, Dubai, UAE
2019, Strange Fruit, Tabari Artspace, Dubai, UAE
2018, A Second Coming , BAR (Beirut Art Residency), Beirut, Lebanon
2018, Analogy to Human Life, Saleh Barakat Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2016, Ain’t Nowhere to Hide, Contemporary Art Platform ( CAP Kuwait), Kuwait
2014, Vision Machines: Shall You See Me Better Now, Agial Art Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2013, Rehearsals, Agial Art Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2011, Canticle of Death, Agial Art Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2010, Fair & Lovely, Agial Art Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2008, Mirror, Mirror!, Agial Art Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2006, Falling Parts, Goethe Institute, Beirut, Lebanon
2004, Still Features, Zico House, Beirut, Lebanon
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021, Bodies That Matter, Berlin Art Lab, Berlin, Germany
2021, Lights of Lebanon, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris
2019, Ourouba/Arabicity, the Middle East Institute Art Gallery, Washington DC, USA, curated by Rose Issa
2019 Walking Through Walls, Gropius Bau Museum, Berlin, Germany
2018, Face Value, Saleh Barakat Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2017, Our Beloved Bodies II, Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE
2017, 100 Chefs d’Oeuvre de L’Art Moderne et Contemporain Arabe, La Collection Barjeel, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France
2016, Betsarof, Lebanese National Library, Beirut, Lebanon
2014, Thin Skin: Six Artists from Beirut, Taymour Grahn Gallery, New York, USA
2013, Re-touch, New Paintings from Beirut, Forum for New Arab Art, Art-Lab, Berlin, Germany
2013, L’insondable Surface, French Institute, Beirut, Lebanon
2012, Re-orientation II, Rose Issa Project, London, UK
2011, Subtitled: With Narratives from Lebanon, Royal College of Art, London, UK
2011, Rebirth, Beirut Exhibition Center, Beirut, Lebanon
2011, Residua, Maraya Art Centre, Al Qasba, Sharjah, UAE
2010, Mokhtarat Ministry of Culture and Education, Doha, Qatar
2010, Zoom Contemporary Art Fair, Miami, Florida, USA
2010, Connecting Heavens, Green Art Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2010, 10th Anniversary of Kasa Art Gallery, Kasa Galerie, Istanbul, Turkey
2008, Bos Laf, Kasa Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2008, AIWA: Aley International Artists Workshop, Aley, Lebanon
2006, Attribute to Senghor, Downtown, Beirut, Lebanon
2006, Arteclassica ,3era. Feria de Arte, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2004, El Bab, Theatre de Beyrouth, Beirut, Lebanon
2003, Cerf Volants Maison du Liban, CIUP, Paris, France
2003, cm3, Cite Internationale Universitaire De Paris, Paris, France
2001, Four Artists, Zara Art Gallery, Amman, Jordan
2001, Ayloul's Summer Academy, Darat al Funoun, Amman, Jordan
2000, Ayloul's Summer Academy, Darat al Funoun, Amman, Jordan
ART FAIRS
2023, Art Dubai, Saleh Barakat Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2021, Abu Dhabi Art Fair, UAE
2020, Art Dubai, Saleh Barakat Galley, Dubai, UAE
2017, 2018, Art Dubai, Agial Art Gallery booth, Dubai, UAE
2017, Beirut Art Fair, Agial Art Gallery booth, Beirut, Lebanon
2016, Art Dubai, Agial Art Gallery booth, Dubai, UAE
2015, Abu Dhabi Art fair, Agial Art Gallery booth, Abu Dhabi, UAE
2014, Singapore Art Fair, Lebanese Pavilion, Singapore, Singapore
2014, Art Dubai, Agial Art Gallery booth, Dubai, UAE
2013, Beirut Art Fair, Agial Art Gallery booth, Beirut, Lebanon
2011, Art Dubai, Agial Art Gallery booth, Dubai, UAE
SELECTED AUCTIONS
2019, Philips Charity Auction, London, UK, curated by LIFE
2013, Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Auction, Doha, Qatar
2013, 101 Works of Art for Syrian Refugee Children in Lebanon, SYRI-ARTS, exhibition curated by Dr. Kathy Battista, Director of Contemporary Art, Sotheby's Institute of Art NY
2012, Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish Art , Christie’s, Dubai, UAE
2011, Contemporary Art/Arab & Iranian and Arts of the Islamic World Sale , Sotheby’s, London, UK
PRIZES
2012, Boghossian Foundation Prize for Young Lebanese Artists (painting)
2003, cm3 exhibition, Cite International Universitaire De Paris, Paris, France (first prize)
2000, Ayloul's Summer Academy (exhibition), Darat al Funoun, Amman, Jordan (second prize)
SELECTED PRESS
2019, Harper's Bazaar, A Visit To Lebanese Artist Tagreed Darghouth's Mar Mikhael Studio In Beirut
2018, The National, Life and death and olive trees: Tagreed Darghouth on her biggest exhibition yet
2017, Financial Times, From war zone to haven: the view from Beirut
2016, Vogue, How Lebanese Artist Tagreed Darghouth Tackles Human Paradoxes