Born in Baissour, Lebanon, in 1992, Ribal Molaeb moved to Salzburg, Austria at the age 17, to study at the Mozarteum University Salzburg. He later moved to Vienna to study at the University for Music and Performing Arts, where he received his Master’s degree in Arts with distinction.
Ribal was assigned as the artistic director of ”SUMITO’’ Art and Music Association in Switzerland.
In Lebanon, he is the founder of ”Molaeb Festival for Chamber Music and Fine Arts”.
Since his early childhood, Ribal was immersed in the world of oil paints, daily learning his skills in the studio of his father, the acclaimed Middle Eastern artist Jamil Molaeb.
Having spent eight years living and studying music in Vienna, Ribal’s musical education profoundly shaped his artistic vision as a colorist. Parallel to his practice as a painter, Ribal performed as a musician on the Viola at international classical music festivals and concert halls worldwide. This unique journey has contributed significantly to his development as a deeply nuanced artist.
Ribal’s paintings have been exhibited with prominent galleries and institutions in cities such as New York, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, London, Paris, Antibes, Madrid, Amsterdam, Geneva, Basel and Zürich.
A painting by Ribal has been acquired by the Museum of Arab Art in Paris (IMA)
Among his participations at international art fairs, he held a solo exhibition at Volta Basel Art Fair 2024 and the Zürich art Fair 2024 and was featured at international Art fairs such as Art Paris 2022 and MENART Paris.
While currently living and working in Zürich, Switzerland, Ribal is represented by Saleh Barakat Gallery in Lebanon and
Mizoe Art Gallery in Japan.
About His Work:
In his early age, Ribal Molaeb was personally trained by his father Jamil Molaeb. He is also inspired by Lebanese 20th century abstract expressionists like Saliba Douaihy, Aref el Rayes and Shafic Abboud. Ribal Molaeb captures the serenity and immaculate beauty of nature: the sunrise viewed from one’s home, the initial moments of optimism at daybreak with its gradual spectrum of hues. A mystical, undulating mountain. An unobstructed horizon illuminated yet firmly rooted, devoid of concerns. A canvas void of any superfluous elements, offering nothing but tranquillity. Ribal’s artistic focus lies in the interplay and equilibrium of lines, forms, and colour gradations, a trait influenced by his background in classical music and musical education in Vienna that shapes his approach to painting. There is a musical orientation in the compositional, harmonic and melodic aspects of his works.
Ribal Molaeb:
Born 1992 in Lebanon
Lives and works in Zürich, Switzerland
Education:
2010 – 2018 Bachelor and Masters – University for Music and Performing Arts, Vienna
Solo Exhibitions:
2025 – Artifact, New York
2025 – Mizoe Art Gallery, Fukuoka, Japan
2025 – Mizoe Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2025 – Zürich International Art Fair, Switzerland
2025 – Espace D’exposition Les Arcades, Antibes, France
2025 – Zko Hause, Zürich, Switzerland
2024 – Galerie Katapult, Basel, Switzerland
2024 – Zürich International Art Fair, Switzerland
2024 – Volta, Basel Art Fair, Switzerland
2024 – Universal Artist Club, Zug, Switzerland
2023 – Orient Gallery, Amman, Jordan
2023 – Galerie Agénor, Zürich, Switzerland
2023 – Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi UAE
2022 – Galerie Esther Woerdehoff, Geneva, Switzerland
2021 – Galerie Claude Lemand, Paris, France
2021 – Zko Gallery, Zürich, Switzerland
2021 – Galerie Agénor, Zürich, Switzerland
2021 – Galerie Janine Rubeiz, Beirut, Lebanon
2019 – Sumito Kulturverein, Switzerland
Group Exhibitions:
2025 – Galleria Sacchetti, Ascona, Switzerland
2025 – Volta, Basel Art Fair, Switzerland
2025 – Galerie Katapult, Basel, Switzerland
2025 – Salwa Zeidan Gallery, Dubai, Uae
2025 – Monat Gallery, Madrid, Spain
2024 – Breath Of Summer / Saleh Barakat Gallery, Lebanon
2024 – Beiteddine Art Festival / Landscapes Belonging / Saleh Barakat
2024 – Ethan Cohen Gallery / Arthaus Basel, Switzerland
2024 – Agial Art Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2024 – Khawla Art Gallery, Dubai, Uae
2023 – Lebanon Untitled, Cromwell Place, London, Uk
2023 – Italian Embassy, Lebanon
2023 – Beiteddine Art Festival / Abstraction Actuelle / Saleh Barakat
2022 – Artscoops, Beirut, Lebanon
2022 – Treasures From The Middle East, Abu Dhabi, Uae
2022 – Galerie Agénor, Zürich, Switzerland
2021 – Galerie Lalalande, Paris, France
2021 – Artb, Dubai, Uae
2020 – Galerie Janine Rubeiz, Beirut, Lebanon
2019 – Selections Art, Dubai, Uae
2018 – Me Art Gallery, Amsterdam, Holland
2017 – Art & Poster Gallery, Zürich, Switzerland
Art Fairs:
2025 – Artmuc, Munich, Germany
2025 – Contemporary Istanbul, Galerie Esther Woerdehoff, Paris
2025 – Volta, Basel Art Fair, Switzerland
2025 – (Solo) Zürich International Art Fair, Switzerland
2024 – (Solo) Zürich International Art Fair, Switzerland
2024 – (Solo) Volta, Basel Art Fair, Switzerland
2022 – Art Paris, Galerie Esther Woerdehoff, Paris
2022 – Menart Paris, Galerie Esther Woerdehoff, Paris
Artist Talks:
2025 – Mizoe Art Gallery, Fukuoka, Japan
Museum Collection:
Modern Arab Art Museum, Paris (Ima)
Art Collections:
Mizoe Collection, Japan
CCAA Collection, Switzerland
HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE
Rania Daniel Collection, New York
The Dubai Collection
Salamoun Collection
Habbal Collection
Karabajakian Collection
Private collections: Switzerland, France, USA, Germany, UK, Japan
