RAYA MATTA

Raya Matta is a visual artist of Lebanese and Greek origins, with a master's degree in Architecture at the Academy of Arts in Beirut. Her artistic journey has always been subject to Lebanon's instability, with her paintings often depicting human figures engaged in cultural and societal customs, and compositions of common objects, that hold specific meanings. Her architectural background is evident in the sharp, clear compositions of her work. Her work evolves in series, that seem to follow the course of her life events. The "crowded" series, about the unstable political environment of Lebanon, opens the way to the "baggage" series, influenced by the aftermath of the Beirut blast in 2020, and the loss of her studio and painting collection. The "totem" series is a study of social dependencies and interactions, whereas the "oblivion" series depicts the abusive use of power by both leaders and populations. The latest "cloth" series treats the delicate link between the "human' and its "clothing". Raya's work was showcased in solo and group exhibitions in Beirut (Beit Beirut Sept 2025 ; Maya Art Space March 2025 ; Maya art space August 2025) ; Paris (Espace Bernard Palissy Nov 2024) and Athens (Entexnon Gallery Nov 2024 ; South Athens Pinacotheque March 2025) ; Cyprus (The Gallery 45 Nov 2025). Scheduled : Hong Kong Art Basel with Artbridger (at Soho House) (March 2026) Jordan (Khuzama Abu Joudeh Gallery March 2026) Her work also figured in auctions (Al Bahia Qatar)

My work speaks of identity, place, and memory - a reflection of the tension between Athens, Beirut, and my Levantine heritage. Trained as an architect, I bring a structural compositional clarity to my paintings, using acrylics and often choosing off centered compositions. The sharp colors I choose distill form and emotion, drawing on influences from Pop Art, deconstructionist practices, and minimalist expressions where emptiness is not absence but presence. My themes are inspired by the absurdity of the worlds I evolve in. They are based on human tensions and interactions (the “totem” series), blinding traditions (the “oblivion” series), faded societal values (the “cloth” series), or fate and exile (the "baggage" series). Through simple shapes, objects and subjects, I explore belonging - whether internal or geographic, personal or collective. Emptiness in my work is intentional: it holds meaning, invites introspection, and provokes the viewer to fill the canvas with their own reflections. As I continue to navigate life between Athens and Beirut, my art is both dialogue and reconciliation - a search for connection to my complicated roots, in colorful and structured settings.