Born in Lebanon, Bassam Geitani studied art at the Sorbonne in Paris. Currently based in Beirut, he teaches fine arts at the Lebanese American University.

Geitani’s work as a painter constantly pushes the boundary of what can be called a painting: his manipulation of the canvas, which he burns or overlays with materials as diverse as rusting nails or glitter, poses fundamental questions about the nature of art. Geitani explores the psychology of physical matter – the way the materials that make up an artwork can themselves tell a story about the work.

Apart from his two-dimensional work, Geitani has been involved in performance and, more recently, installation – inAnamorphose for instance, he uses the optical illusion of anamorphosis to destroy and recreate an olive tree, a symbol of Mediterranean life.

Geitani regularly exhibits in Beirut, Paris, the United States and London since the nineties. He was also featured in art fairs and biennials in Sharjah, Dubai and in Kuwait. In 2006, his work Cunéiforme II was acquired by the British Museum, and in 2007, he was part of Christie’s Dubai Middle Eastern art sale.