Ricardo
Mbarkho

Artist, researcher and assistant professor. Head of the Research Department and Director of the Centre for Research and Creation, ALBA – University of Balamand.

Profile

Ricardo Mbarkho is a Lebanese artist, researcher and assistant professor whose scholarship and artistic practice query the intersections of media art, language, communication, cultural and creative industries, and socio-economic models of artistic production. He heads the Research Department and directs the Centre for Research and Creation at ALBA – University of Balamand. His work combines digital images and time-based media with participatory and socio-economic artistic practices, and has been presented through festivals, exhibitions, lectures and publications in Lebanon and internationally.

Experimental video · New media arts · Research-creation · Cultural & creative industries · Cultural policy · Socio-economic art · AI & arts education

Education

2017PhD, University Sorbonne Paris Nord →Thesis: What is at Stake in the Interaction between Media Arts and Cultural Industries
Jun 2002National Superior Post-Diploma in Fine ArtsÉcole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris (ENSBA)
Jun 2001DNSAP, with the Jury’s Congratulations →École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris (ENSBA)
Aug–Nov 1999Exchange student →Carnegie Mellon University, College of Fine Arts, Pittsburgh
Jun 1998Higher Studies in Cinematography and Audiovisual TechniquesÉcole Supérieure d’Études Cinématographiques (ESEC), Paris
Jun 1996Diploma of French Language Studies (DELF), 1st degreeMinistry of National Education, France
1996Higher Studies in Painting and Drawing →Lebanese University, Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture, Branch 2
1992Baccalaureate, Mathematics and Physical SciencesMinistry of National Education and Culture, Academy of Grenoble, France

Teaching

2002–presentLecturer, then Assistant ProfessorAcadémie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (ALBA) – University of Balamand. Art, Video and New Media
2006Teacher, UNESCO digi-arts →Art, Design and Technology Master Classes in the Arab States (e-course)
1997–2000Staff, Infography Cluster →École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris

Professional development

Apr–Dec 2025Formation à la méthodologie de la rechercheAUF, Beirut
Nov 29, 2025AI for Creative IndustriesALBA – University of Balamand, Dekwaneh
May 9, 2025Gouvernance et structuration de la RechercheAUF, Beirut
Nov 1–18, 2024Ingénierie de la recherche en éducationAUF-CRDP, Beirut
Feb 28–29, 2024AI Tools for Design and MarketingAI Lab, Beirut
Jan 31, 2024Usages de l’IA en Education – Retours d’expériences et perspectivesMOOC, Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique, France
Nov 14–18, 2022Instructional Design for e-LearningUniversities Association of Lebanon (UAOLB), with the DGHE (Ministry of Education and Higher Education) and the UNESCO Beirut office
Mar 21–22, 2019Evaluation in EducationALBA – University of Balamand, Dekwaneh
Dec 8, 9 & 15, 2016Moodle training (open-source platform for education)ALBA – University of Balamand, Dekwaneh
Since Jul 7, 2015Basics of Electronic Music Production, 24 sessionsThe Music Home, Jdeydeh
Jan 20 – Feb 10, 2011Photography Workshop: AdvancedWith Tony Yammine, Antelias
Nov 6–27, 2010Photography Workshop: BasicsWith Tony Yammine, Badaro
Jan 14–18, 20025 jours pour entreprendreChambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Paris
Jun–Jul 2000Make Up for cinema and for photographyParis
Jun–Jul 19983D animation and Special EffectsDUBOI Digital Special Effects, Levallois-Perret

Earlier publications and artistic records may appear under the name Ricardo Mbarak. Languages: French, English, Arabic.

Research

Since February 2023 he has been structuring the Centre for Research and Creation (CRC) at ALBA – University of Balamand: a space for research, creation, documentation and publication in the arts, built around interdisciplinary and collaborative work with internal and external partners.

Visit the CRC

Projects

Sep 2024–Jan 2026ARC: Invisual Art – Creativity within Socio-Economic Models ↗Atelier for Research and Creation, ALBA – University of Balamand. How art can develop outside the traditional market’s constraints
Feb 2024–Mar 2025Artificial Intelligence and Artistic Education ↗CRC research project on the impact of AI in art education
Sep–Dec 2024Lead Researcher, real-time AI image generation appWith Cre8mania. Funded by the EBRD, Lebanon

Leadership & representation

2023–presentHead of the Research Department and Director of the Centre for Research and CreationALBA – University of Balamand
2023–presentRepresentative of ALBA – UOB at the MEHEBeirut
2005–presentCorrespondent of the YASMIN Network in Lebanon →Art, science and technology around the Mediterranean Rim
2012–2016Adjunct Director, Visual Arts SchoolALBA – University of Balamand

Juries, committees & curating

2024–presentReviewer, Journal RegardsSaint-Joseph University of Beirut
2016–presentVisual arts nominatorCivitella Ranieri Foundation, New York
2009–presentEvaluation Committee, FrancoLABSUniversité Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
2025–2026Jury, “Une Relève Méditerranéenne”Parallèle, L’École(s) du Sud and Miramar, France
May 2023Nominator, AiR BeirutSaradar Foundation residency
Jan–Feb 2023International jury, Film Festival Transcending BordersParis
Sep 2022Selection committee, Artémed residencyZico House and Macam, Lebanon
2022Selection committee, Artémed residency “World Cities”Paris
Dec 18–22, 2020International jury, Bosnia Herzegovina Looks AroundParis
Jul 15, 2010Co-curator, “Videoarte del Líbano”Alianza Francesa, Buenos Aires
2004–2010Director, Festival International de Film et Vidéo de CréationALBA and the Goethe-Institut, Beirut
2010Jury, EU Photo Competition 2010“Climate and Environment in Lebanon”
Sep 23–25, 2008Curator, students’ video screeningCDEx, UQAM, Canada
Sep 9 – Oct 1, 2006Co-curator, “Beirut – The videographic practice”Gallery B-312, Montréal
Jul 13–31, 2006Proposal Committee, Fair Play 2006 Video FestivalBerlin
Apr 9, 2006Jury, Master Classes in the Arab States, UNESCO Digi-arts →American University at Dubai

Publications

Journal articles in Leonardo (MIT Press), book chapters, proceedings and recorded talks.

Peer-reviewed articles

2021What Is at Stake in the Interaction between Media Arts and Cultural Industries in Lebanon →Leonardo 54(6), MIT Press, 714–716
Jul 2016L’interdépendance dialectique entre création artistique médiatique et industries culturelles →Fann wa imarah, no. 6, Lebanese University
2012On New Media and Creativity in Lebanon →Leonardo 45(2), MIT Press, 198–201

Book chapters, articles & proceedings

May 2025Économie politique de l’art invisuel →Revue de Paris
2021En marche vers une idéologie neutre de la politique culturelle →In incertains regards, Presses Universitaires de Provence
2018Le modèle socioéconomique de l’art invisuel →Video lecture, FoméA, Paris
Oct 2015Pour une double définition des relations entre création médiatique et industries culturelles →Al Hikma, no. 14, Lebanon
2014Presentation of the RAMI platform in Lebanon →Podcast, with C. Dussollier and A. Nawar
2014Les artistes et la révolution numérique →In Le monde arabe entre révolutions numérique et politique, Shams-Transverscité
2013Trauma Stimulated Art, or the Embodiment of Affect in Lebanon: An Allegory →In Traumatic Affect, Cambridge Scholars Publishing
2012Response on new media and social change in MENA →Ibraaz online forum
2010A different kind of media creativity in the Lebanon →In Cultures and Globalization: Cultural Expression, Creativity & Innovation, SAGE
2008Introduction to Art and New Media in the Arab States →In Visual Narratives from Arabia, UNESCO
Jun 30, 2004DVD “Ricardo Mbarak” →Sabbah Media Corporation, Lebanon

Books and catalogues about the work

2023Jean-Claude Moineau →Pour un art invisuel, inouï, inesthétique, inœuvré, pluriel…, Biennale de Paris
2021Corina Chutaux Mila →Esthétique de l’art invisuel, Les Éditions du Panthéon
2016, 2018Art in America →Annual Guide
2017Chroniques Alexandrie – Aix-Marseille →Artistic and educational cooperation between Alexandria and Aix-Marseille
2016Hind Al-Soufi →Visual Movements in the West and Arab World, 1500–2015
2016The New Collectors Book →Fifth edition, Basak Malone LLC, USA
2015Liban, carrefour d’échanges culturels →Co-édition Shams – Transversité
2014Positive Lebanon →Éditions Tamyras
2013Bernard Miège, Philippe Bouquillion, Pierre Mœglin →L’industrialisation des biens symboliques, PUG
2012Ricardo Mbarkho – Images. 2008–2012 →Catalogue, Mark Hachem Gallery
2012Mario Costa →Ontology of the media, postmedia books
2010Christophe Stener →Dictionnaire politique d’Internet et du numérique
2009Cathy Brickwood →Mapping E-Culture, Virtueel Platform
2009Windows Upon Oceans →Cultural Observatory of the Middle East, ARTos Foundation, Cyprus
2009VIDEOFORMES 2009 →Festival catalogue, Clermont-Ferrand
2008A Complete Insider’s Guide to Lebanon →Souk el Tayeb Press
2008Fred Forest →Art et Internet, Le Cercle d’Art (also 2000, 2002, L’Harmattan)
200715th Biennale de Paris →Catalogue, Paris Musées
2001Pierre Atallah →L’Amitié franco-libanaise, GIPFL – Beyrouth sur Seine

Press coverage →Books about the work →

Art Practice

Over more than two decades, Mbarkho’s practice has embraced video and digital arts, as well as socio-economic art, which he defines through projects such as Tabbouleh Day, held every July since 2001. His work also extends to invisual art, questioning how art is produced, circulated, recognised, and made visible.

Socio-economic art

February 2, 2024The Bible According to ChatGPT →Presented by the Biennale de Paris, December 25, 2024
2004Wanting Is Having · Anonymous →Catalogue papers
Since Jul 2001Tabbouleh Day →A celebration every first Saturday of July, Biennale de Paris, online and at Souk el Tayeb, Beirut
Jan 2000Paris – Côte Ouest →Brittany, France
Jun 4–7, 1999Week-end Pierre-Yves Fave Portes Ouvertes →Connections
Since 1999Each one has from art what art has from itself →Connections

Digital

September 20, 2026More Money →Game art
January 7, 2021Galaxy Attack’s Poetic Bug →Video documentation of the Poetic Bug in the game Galaxy Attack
April 10, 2015Hungry Shark Evolution’s Poetic Bug →Video documentation of the Poetic Bug in the game Hungry Shark Evolution
2008–2012Digital images →Series based on text files
Since 2011Grading the Lebanese Constitution →Online page
Since Aug 12, 2003VISITORS →Online page
Since Aug 1, 2003CONNECTED →Online page
1999–2001Lebanese Group →USA – France. Discussion list

Video

2007Arameans →Lebanon. 3 min 36 s
2002More than normal →France. 10 min 18 s
1999Gare de Lyon – Juvisy →France. 52 min
1999M as in Megan →USA. 6 min
1997J-930 avant l'an 2000 →France. 7 min 32 s

Exhibitions

Solo shows, group exhibitions and biennials, video festivals on four continents, and art fairs with Mark Hachem Gallery and ART UpCLOSE.

Solo

2001–2026Tabbouleh DayEach July; Souk el Tayeb, Beirut; Biennale de Paris, 2006 and 2016
May 15–29, 2012Fine Pixels →Galerie Mark Hachem, Beirut
Jun 5–12, 2009[Since Art] →microARTos, Contemporary Art Center, Madrid
Jun 4–7, 1999Week-end Pierre-Yves Fave Portes Ouvertes →Pierre-Yves Fave apartment, Les Lilas

Selected group exhibitions & biennials

Jun 3–6, 2022L’Expo du CoeurLebanese Academy of Fine Arts, Dekwaneh
Dec 14–16, 2016Breaking Charm: Cheating Urban ExperienceLebanese Academy of Fine Arts, Dekwaneh
Jul 15 – Aug 6, 2016Collective ExhibitionMark Hachem Gallery, Beirut
Jul 2, 2016Art Meetings – Beirut →Biennale de Paris in Beirut
Jun 18–19, 2016MAT – Mouvement Art TechnologyBlancs-Manteaux Auction, Paris
Sep 8–20, 2015Beirut Experimental Art Exhibition IVZaitunay Bay, The Yacht Club gallery, Beirut
Aug 13 – Sep 16, 2015Arab Collective Art ExhibitionMark Hachem Gallery, Beirut
Dec 11–19, 2014Les LauréatsLebanese Artists Association (LAA Gallery), Beirut
May 19–29, 2014X-perimental Art Exhibition III →The Venue gallery, Beirut Souks
Mar 3–5, 2014Multaka Ibn Rūchd →Sunflower, Beirut
Nov 26–28, 2012Computer Art Congress 3 – PostDigital ArtParis
Oct 31 – Nov 6, 2012Visual Art Forum III →UNESCO Palace, Beirut
Apr 25 – May 2, 2012X-Perimental X-HibitionMaqam & Istoria galleries, Beirut
Mar 24, 2012La Fête de l’Internet 2012Museaav, Nice, and La Cantine, Paris
Oct 25 – Nov 1, 2011Visual Art Forum II →UNESCO Palace, Beirut
Mar 20, 2011La Fête de l’Internet 2011Museaav, Nice
Oct 26 – Nov 2, 2010Visual Art Forum I →UNESCO Palace, Beirut. Prize of the Ministry of Culture, 2010
Oct 1–3, 2010Politique 0 →Espace Niemeyer, Paris
Apr 28 – May 5, 2010Experimental ExhibitionLebanese Artists Association (LAA Gallery), Beirut
Sep 28 – Oct 6, 2009Crea Numerica →Pièce Unique gallery, Beirut
Feb 10 – Mar 6, 2009Image : Fixe, Mobile, AniméeCentre Culturel Français, Beirut
Oct 24, 2008Nuit BlancheDawwar el Shams (The Sunflower), Beirut
Jun 2008Lebanon Now →Lebanese Artists Association (LAA Gallery), Beirut
2006–2008Biennale de Paris XVFrance / Lebanon
Oct 29 – Nov 1, 2007Goethe-InstitutBeirut
Sep 18–19, 2004INGAN IIBerlin
Mar 4–29, 2004Biennale de Paris XIVEspace SD, Beirut
Oct 9–15, 2003Journées Méditerranéennes des Arts PlastiquesSousse Cultural Center, Sousse
Sep 2003JavaMuseumFeature “Current Positions of French Netart”, Cologne
May–Jun 2002L’art c’est secondaireENSBA, Paris
Mar 2000La Fête de l’InternetCité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, Paris
Jun 5–12, 1999Ghislain Mollet-ViévilleParis

Festivals & video screenings

Dec 18–22, 2020Bosnia Herzegovina Looks AroundParis
Oct 16, 2013Festival dokumentARTPoland
Mar 2003–Sep 2012Festival International Signes de NuitParis, Düsseldorf, Ankara, Bursa, Izmir, Nuit Blanche 2005, Rotterdam
Feb 24–26 & Mar 3–5, 2012CologneOFF · Art Video ExchangeIndia · Tromsø, Norway
Jun 2–3 & Nov 14–18, 2011Art Video Exchange · CologneOFFOslo · Mexico City
2009VIDEOFORMES · Casablanca Video Art Festival · Les VagamondesClermont-Ferrand · Morocco · Évry
Dec 20, 2008Espace le Scribe-l’HarmattanParis
Jan–Nov 2008transmediale · LOOP’08 · Instants Vidéo · INVIDEOBerlin · Barcelona · Marseille · Milan
Mar–Oct 2008Barricades without borders · LiteSide · Oslo ScreenSarajevo · Amsterdam · Oslo
Oct 26, 2005Back StageBeirut
Oct 2004–Jan 2005Cinémathèque Québécoise · Espace SD · Goethe-InstitutMontréal · Beirut

Art fairs

Mar 2015–Sep 2019ART UpCLOSEArtexpo New York, Architectural Digest Show, Monaco Yacht Show, LA Art Show, Red Dot & Spectrum Miami, Art Monaco
Sep 21–24, 2017Beirut Art FairMark Hachem Gallery
Dec 3–7, 2014Spectrum MiamiContemporary Art Network
Mar 28 – Apr 1 & Sep 20–22, 2013Art Paris Art Fair · Beirut Art FairGalerie Mark Hachem, Grand Palais, Paris · Beirut
Jul 12–16 & Nov 24–27, 2011MENASART · Contemporary Istanbul →Galerie Mark Hachem
Nov 17–21, 2008artParis Abu DhabiGalerie Épreuve d’Artiste

Prize of the Lebanese Ministry of Culture for the Contemporary Arts, Visual Art Forum I, Beirut, 2010. Second Prize of the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture for the International Food Day, January 12, 1991.

Lectures & workshops

Invited lectures, seminars and round tables on invisual art, cultural policy and media art, from Beirut to Paris, Bangkok, Yamoussoukro and New York.

May 6, 2026The Artwork at War: Markets, Meaning, and Media from Modernity to AI →American University of Technology (AUT), Lebanon
Oct 31, 2025Introduction to Invisual Art →With Alexandre Gurita. Zico House, Beirut, Lebanon
May 27, 2025The Political, Social, and Economic World: A New Medium for Art →Institut d’art philosophique et invisuel, France
May 21, 2025The Political Economy of Invisual Art →Biennale de Paris, Poland
May 20, 2025The Invisual Art Collection – in progress – at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, University of Balamand, Beirut →Biennale de Paris, Poland
Feb 21–28, 2025Presentation of the Atelier for Research and Creation in Invisual Art →Biennale de Paris, Bangkok
Apr 27, 2024Revisiting Tabbouleh: A New Perspective on Its History →JEPTAV 2024, Institut Supérieur des Beaux-Arts de Sousse, Tunisia
Jan 19, 2024Invisual Art – A Socio-Economic Breakthrough →École Nationale d’Art, Paris
Jan 11, 2024Invisual Resistance – The Evolution of Tabbouleh →École Nationale d’Art, Paris
Nov 14, 2022Tabbouleh Day →International colloquium on invisual art in Africa, Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire
Jun 17, 2022How Invisual Art Saved the World →Colloquium Doxa et Paradoxe, Sorbonne Université, Paris
Mar 25, 2022Where does artwork exist? →École Nationale d’Art, Paris
Mar 23, 2021Fermer les écoles d’art ou les réinventer →Biennale de Paris with the Hôtel de Ville de Paris
May 12, 2018What is at Stake in the Interaction Between Media Arts and Cultural Industries →Lebanese University, Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture, Deir el Kamar
Mar 22, 2018What is at Stake in the Interaction Between Media Arts and Cultural Industries →Lebanese University, Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture (Branch II), Department of Visual Arts, Furn el Chebbak

Earlier lectures (2003–2016)

Oct 11–14, 2016The socio-economic model of ‘invisual’ art: an inter-model approach →Acta Media 12, Paris
Mar 17, 2016Cultural business incubators, incubators for Democracy? →Incubinc/AMI & Roberto Cimetta Fund, Marseille
Dec 18, 2015The use of social and political space as a platform for artistic practice →IHEAP at the Jeu de Paume, Paris
Sep 24, 2015Tabbouleh Day →IHEAP, Ashok Jain Gallery, New York
Dec 5, 2014Digital Art: History and New Aesthetic →Colloquium “Penser le numérique”, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut
Nov 21, 2012YASMIN, Announcements and Discussions Lists →Presentation, MADARAT – Exchange Platform, Beirut
Nov 2, 2012Digital Art and Cinema →RAMI 3.0, Notre Dame University, Beirut. With Claire Duport
Jun 10, 2011History and Future of Artistic Creation on the Internet →WJ-SPOTS, Mal au Pixel, La Gaîté Lyrique, Paris
Nov 9, 2010A Panoramic Possible View: art and sciences in the Mediterranean →IMéRA, Marseille. With Claudine Dussollier
Oct 19–25, 2010Arts and Tabbouleh Day →Biennale de Paris in Cyprus, Nicosia
Sep 28, 2009Les enjeux de la création numérique →Crea Numerica 09, Beirut. With Marika Dermineur
Apr 25, 2008Beirut and Media Art Today →European Media Art Festival, Osnabrück
Feb 6, 2005Art and New Media in Lebanon →transmediale.05, Berlin
Oct 2003How to Make Art on the Internet →Superior Institute of Fine Arts, Sousse

Seminars & round tables

Apr 26, 2024Round table: Invisual Art, Fields of Application and Implications →JEPTAV 2024, Sousse
Dec 16, 2022Symposium: Tabbouleh Day →P.A.S. Lab and Biennale de Paris
Nov 11, 2022Seminar: How to Buy or Sell Invisual Art? →DIAM, Biennale de Paris
Dec 8, 2017Round table: Current Stakes of the Visual Arts in Lebanon →Colloquium “Combats pour la culture / Combats de la culture”, Lebanese University, Beirut
Nov 8, 2017Study day: Arts et politique culturelle dans le sud méditerranéen →LESA, Aix-Marseille Université
Sep 7–8, 2017Round table: Working with the Arab-Muslim world in the wake of “Arab Spring” →ANdEA summer seminar “A New Europe for a New World: Art Schools in Globalisation”, Strasbourg
Nov 29, 2014Round table: Strategies and Territories →Villa Méditerranée, Marseille
Nov 28, 2014Master class: social and political space as a medium →IHEAP, Paris
Oct 26 & 31, 2012Seminar: Political Art, art and politics →RAMI 3.0, ALBA and Saint-Joseph University, Beirut. With Claire Duport
Oct 30, 2012Round table: Artists and the digital revolution →Multaka Ibn Rùchd 2012, RAMI 3.0, Shams, Tayyouneh, Beirut. Moderated by Claudine Dussollier
Oct 27, 2012Professional encounter at AltCity →RAMI 3.0, Hamra, Beirut
Feb 27, 2012Round table: A view on new forms of artistic expression by young Arabs →UNESCO-Sharjah Prize ceremony, UNESCO, Paris. Co-moderated with Tereza Wagner
Sep 29, 2009Panel: Communautés et réseaux internationaux de création numérique →Crea Numerica 09, Village des partenaires, Saifi, Beirut
Nov 25, 2007Seminar: Art and New Media →RAMI, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Alexandria, 24th Alexandria Biennale
Nov 24, 2007Seminar: The Relationship between the arts and the digital tools? →RAMI, Atelier of Alexandria, 24th Alexandria Biennale
Oct 9, 2007Seminar: New media and History of Art →RAMI, The Sunflower, Beirut
2007Expert meeting: Setting of the Digital Video CurriculumArab Digital Expression camps, Egypt
Jun 2–3, 2005Round table: eCulture, Creative Content and DigiArts →World Summit Contributory Conference, Vienna
Sep 4–5, 2004Experts meeting, UNESCO Digi-arts →Ars Electronica, Linz
Oct 12, 2003Round table: Place of the new technologies in the conception process of the art piece →Journées méditerranéennes des arts plastiques (4th session), Taj Marhaba hotel, Sousse

Institutions & networks

Where he teaches, researches and belongs. Former member of the Syndicate of Lebanese Visual Artists, the Maison des Artistes, France, the Association of the Friends of the Paris Biennial and the Administration Board of the Associés de la Biennale de Paris (2010–2013).

ALBAUniversity of Balamand CRCCentre for Research & Creation ResearchGateResearch Instagram@ricardombarkho Facebookricardombarkhoart