Painter, illustrator and architect, Benoit Debbane is born in Beirut in 1974 and raised by a family of artists. In 1991, as soon as the war ends, he first emerges as a graffiti artist in the streets of his beloved hometown. Later on, he studies architecture at the Académie Libanaise des Beaux Arts (ALBA), a discipline in which he will not work, but will heavily impact his aesthetics and composition. Instead, he kicks off his carreer as a freelance illustrator/comic artist for various local magazines-notably Aishti Magazine (2004-2009), newspapers (notably L'Orient le-lour (1997-today)) and reputable advertisement agencies. Later on, Benoit will also teach the art of illustration at the Lebanese American University (LAU) and digital art at ALBA. As a painter, Benoit holds many sold out solo shows to his account, mainly exhibited at ART LOUNGE BEIRUT (2008-2014). Following this period, Benoit is forced to recluse due to a health challenge. Yet, he remains active through commissioned works and his participation to collective art auctions, both local and international In June 2019, Benoit makes his comeback with a successful solo show OUGA! OUGA! at GALERIE CHERIFF TABET before entering an exclusive 3-year representation by the same gallery (ended April 2022). Today, with the pandemic and unprecedented local Lebanese crisis alike having heavily impacted and saturated the -art- market in Lebanon, Benoit sees a momentum in finally dedicating to seriously explore new horizons such as the regional Arab and international art scenes. Although continuously evolving into more and more abstract forms, Benoit's art has kept its essence alive through splashes of signature neon colors and irreverent doodles that remind us of his street art debuts. His art can be qualified as playful, subtly satirical, and sometimes provocative, as it explores the contradictions and absurdities of the crazy world we live in, through the eyes of a child who refuses to grow up. And for a valid reason.
