Joseph Matar

Biography:

Born August 3rd, 1935, at Ghadir, Lebanon.
Nationality: French and Lebanese.
Schooled at the Marist Brethren, Jounieh.
Polyglot.

Art Scholarships from governments:

Madrid , 1961-1963

Paris , 1963

Rome , 1973

Paris , 1985

Practice in studios of acknowledged masters:

Omar Onsi's, 1951-1961

George Corm's, 1958-1961

Rachid Wehbe's, 1955-1957

Italian Cultural Centre, Beirut, 1955-1957

Ecole Supérieure des lettres, Beirut, 1955-1957

Beirut Faculty of medicine (Anatomy), 1958-1959

Diplomas:

Diplomas of Higher Studies, Madrid University and San Fernando School of Fine Arts, 1961-1963.

Doctorate 3rd cycle, University of Paris. “ Plastic arts, pictorial technology and expression.”

Doctorat d' Etat 1999, Lebanese University.

Assignments:

Lebanese State instructor since 1954.

In charge of refresher courses for Lebanese art instructors in Beirut, Tripoli and Byblos state high schools, since 1965.

Instructor of Fine Arts at Holy Spirit University, Kaslik, since 1963.

Titular professor of the Lebanese University.

Chairman of the Drawing and Painting Department at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Lebanese University, 1980-1985 and 1994-1996; member of the Faculty Council.

Exhibitions:

More than sixty-five personal exhibitions in Lebanon and around the world.

Works in private collections, public, religious and private corporations around the world :

France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, Vatican, United States,Canada, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Abu Dabi, Irak, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Emirats, Kuwait, Cyprus and Egypt

Interviews:

Courses of artistic formation on Lebanese Television, for all students at universities and teachers’ training colleges.

Radio - BBC, Voice of America, Montecarlo, France and Kuwait Radio, Radio Liban.

TV - Kuwaiti and Lebanese.

Publications by the artist concerning his work:

Several articles in the local and International press.

Several talks given in educational institutions in Lebanon and abroad.

Polycopied courses for secondary (senior high) school classes and the teachers’ training college.

Teachers’ book in Arabic for the Centre for pedagogic research and Development

A book about the artist's work: Peintures du Liban –Joseph Matar - Tanit Edition -1996.

Member of "Art in Context Organization" - New York - 1997

Mentioned in the book "Pioneers from Lebanon" Ed. 2000.

The work of Joseph Matar was critiqued on April 11, 2000 by Joanna Bassil (Bachelor of Arts degree, University of Quebec - Montreal, Canada).- A question of culture and formation which finds its expression in the work of Joseph Matar.

His poetry has been mentioned in "Dreams and Fantasies" part of The Silence Within series by The International Library of Poetry.

The works of Joseph Matar appear in the book "Histoire de l'art du 20ème siècle, artiste peintre Joseph Matar", Tome III, Académie Michel Angelo des beaux arts, Beirut, by Alice Atwé under the supervision of Bernard Renno.

In July 2001, his poetry was recognized by an award for outstanding achievement from the international library of poetry (Library of Congress ISBN-0-7951-5062-8).

Mentioned in the book "Arab Artists Resource Guide", an exclusive directory of Arab cultural representatives - Edition 2003.

The work of Joseph Matar was critiqued on March 6, 2003 by Jean-Maximillien de la Croix De Lafayette (Music and Art Society of America, Inc., President Emeritus), Meet Joseph Matar: The Artist who spoke to nature and unveiled its divine beauty!

The work of Joseph Matar was critiqued on April 19, 2003 by Joan Lluís Montané from the International Association of Art Critics.


In November 2003, his work was recognized by an award for outstanding achievement from "Said Akl Awards"