Biographical Milestones

1924

Born on November 13 in İskenderun (Alexandrette), Turkey.

1947

Studies literature and philosophy in Beirut, Lebanon.

1948

Holds his first solo exhibition at the Library of the École Supérieure des Lettres in Beirut.

1949

Awarded a scholarship by the Cultural Mission for a 3-year stay in France, arriving in November; becomes in Paris a student in the drawing and painting workshop of André Lhote (1885-1962) and Nicolas Poliakoff (1899-1976), attends free sketching classes at La Grande Chaumière, and studies printmaking at Pierre Guastalla’s (1891-1968) studio.

1950

Exhibits with the French Government Scholars at the Beaux-Arts de Paris.

1953

First solo exhibition in France at the Lucy Krohg Gallery (Paris).

1954

Solo exhibitions in Beirut and Aleppo (Syria).

1955

Group exhibition « Artistes Étrangers en France » at the Petit Palais (Paris).

1959

Participates in the first Paris Contemporary Art Biennale at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.

1960

Solo exhibition at the Madeleine Rauch Gallery (Paris).

1961

First purchase by the French State of one of his paintings, Centre National des Arts Plastiques (Paris).

1966

Solo exhibition at the Bernheim-Jeune Gallery (Paris).

1967

Participates in the Salon d’Automne at the Grand Palais (Paris).

1970

Artistic residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts(Paris) ;

a retrospective project in France at the Musée National d’Art Moderne initiated by the French Minister of Culture.

1974

Second purchase by the French State of a painting by the artist, Centre National des Arts Plastiques (Paris).

1975

Solo exhibition at the Agora-Sèvres Gallery (Paris);

meets Marie Castel and sets up a new artist’s studio in the 13th arrondissement of Paris.

1988

Retrospective exhibition of his work at the Club Dunois (Paris), « 40 Years of Painting: 1947-1988 »

2001

Death of the artist on December 19 in Paris.