photo: aarushi zarthoshtimanesh

Marwa El Rifai is an artist and a graphic designer based in Beirut.  Her work explores themes of humanity, spirituality, and nature. Her artistic practice encompasses different mediums like charcoal, ink, acrylic, sound, metal, wood and publication in which is then translated into painting, drawing, language, poetry and installation. She ponders between seeing and being, the visible and the invisible. Through creating she finds herself constantly questioning the fleeting existence, the sensible and the fragile. She allows herself to explore different mediums and topics which she investigates the underlying meaning of them all.


EDUCATION
2017, Parsons School of Design, Summer Program, Product Design, New York, USA
2019, Lebanese American University, Bachelor of Graphic Design, Beirut, Lebanon            
2024, Lebanese American University, Painting Techniques Diploma, Beirut, Lebanon

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024, Speaking To The Light, As If I Can, Berlin Art Institute
2022, Dazwischen (In Between), KHBStudios Kunsthalle Berlin
2021, Time is Passing, Beirut, Marwa El Rifai Studio

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023, Encounters, Beiteddine Art Festival, Chouf Mount Lebanon
2023, Encounters, Galerie Janine Rubeiz, Beirut, Lebanon

SELF PUBLISHED PUBLICATIONS
2023, Letters I Said To The Winds When I Couldn’t
2022, Time is Passing (On A Train to See A Fig Tree)
2021, Experimental Ways of Seeing
2019, The Way I Sea (A Companion To Sea’s Way)

ART RESIDENCIES/ PROGRAMS/NOMINATIONS
2024, Alserkal Arts Foundation, Public Program, Open Crit, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2024, Berlin Art Institute, Art Residency, Berlin, Germany
2024, Saradar Fondation Art Residency, Nomination, Beirut, Lebanon
2022, KHBStudios Kunsthalle Berlin, Art Residency, Berlin, Germany    

EXPERIENCE/AWARDS/CERTIFICATES
2024, Tour Guide, Saloua Raouda Choucair Exhibition, Lebanese American University
2022, Volunteer, Art Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2022, UX/UI Google Coursera, Online
2019, Silkscreen Workshop Hicham Abozid, Waraq org, Beirut
2018, Winner of  ArabPack/ LibanPack structural packaging, Issued by LibanPack
2018, Embroidery Workshop, Salim Azzam, Beirut
2018, Printing Press, Karaky Printing Press, Beirut
2018, Peter Sanders Photography Workshop, Beirut
2018, Graphic Designer, Masrah Al Madina Theater, Beirut
2017, Design Conference, American Institute of Graphic Arts, Paula Scher & Unit editions
2017, Graphic Designer, Salim Azzam Studio, Beirut
2015, Participation in LAU Model Arab League Conference program
2014, Winner of BAU National Commission for Science and Research

PRESS
ICI Beyrouth https://icibeyrouth.com/culture/231173
Annahar https://tinyurl.com/3dp2nfje
Gallery Fine Arts Lebanon, Beirut https://www.gallery.com.lb/encounters-2023/
AlArab, Article by Mimosa Al-Arawi, Beirut https://tinyurl.com/4fhu758f   

                           
EMAIL: elrifaimarwa@gmail.com

Instagram: @marwa_elrifai