Ricardo
Mbarkho

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.

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 →

Exhibitions & Events

Solo shows, group exhibitions and biennials, conferences, seminars and programmes in which he took part, video festivals on four continents, and art fairs with Mark Hachem Gallery and ART UpCLOSE.

Solo

• 2001–2026Tabbouleh Day →Each July; Souk el Tayeb, Beirut; Biennale de Paris, 2006 and 2016Artwork
• May 15–29, 2012Fine Pixels →Galerie Mark Hachem, BeirutExhibited work: Digital images
• Jun 5–12, 2009[Since Art] →microARTos, Contemporary Art Center, MadridExhibited works (8)
• Jun 4–7, 1999Week-end Pierre-Yves Fave Portes Ouvertes →Pierre-Yves Fave apartment, Les LilasArtwork

Selected group exhibitions & biennials

• May 20–23, 2025Biennale de Paris in Toruń →Znaki Czasu Contemporary Art Centre, Toruń, PolandLectures (2)
• Feb 21–28, 2025Biennale de Paris in Bangkok →Bangkok, ThailandLecture
• Jun 3–6, 2022L’Expo du CoeurLebanese Academy of Fine Arts, DekwanehExhibited work
• Dec 14–16, 2016Breaking Charm: Cheating Urban ExperienceLebanese Academy of Fine Arts, DekwanehExhibited work
• Jul 15 – Aug 6, 2016Collective ExhibitionMark Hachem Gallery, BeirutExhibited work
• Jul 2, 2016Art Meetings – Beirut →Biennale de Paris in BeirutPresented work: Tabbouleh Day
• Jun 18–19, 2016MAT – Mouvement Art TechnologyBlancs-Manteaux Auction, ParisExhibited work: Digital images
• Sep 8–20, 2015Beirut Experimental Art Exhibition IVZaitunay Bay, The Yacht Club gallery, BeirutExhibited work
• Aug 13 – Sep 16, 2015Arab Collective Art ExhibitionMark Hachem Gallery, BeirutExhibited work: Digital images
• Dec 11–19, 2014Les LauréatsLebanese Artists Association (LAA Gallery), BeirutExhibited work
• May 19–29, 2014X-perimental Art Exhibition III →The Venue gallery, Beirut SouksExhibited work: CONNECTED
• Mar 3–5, 2014Multaka Ibn Rūchd →Sunflower, BeirutExhibited work: Grading the Lebanese Constitution
• Nov 26–28, 2012Computer Art Congress 3 – PostDigital ArtParisExhibited work: Digital images
• Oct 31 – Nov 6, 2012Visual Art Forum III →UNESCO Palace, BeirutExhibited work
• Apr 25 – May 2, 2012X-Perimental X-HibitionMaqam & Istoria galleries, BeirutExhibited work: Grading the Lebanese Constitution
• Mar 24, 2012La Fête de l’Internet 2012Museaav, Nice, and La Cantine, ParisExhibited work: Digital images
• Oct 25 – Nov 1, 2011Visual Art Forum II →UNESCO Palace, BeirutExhibited work: Digital images
• Mar 20, 2011La Fête de l’Internet 2011Museaav, NiceExhibited work: CONNECTED
• Oct 26 – Nov 2, 2010Visual Art Forum I →UNESCO Palace, Beirut. Prize of the Ministry of Culture, 2010Exhibited work: Digital images
• Oct 19–25, 201017th Biennale de Paris in Nicosia →ARTos Foundation, Nicosia, CyprusPresented work: Tabbouleh Day · Presentation
• Oct 1–3, 2010Politique 0 →Espace Niemeyer, ParisExhibited work: Digital images
• Apr 28 – May 5, 2010Experimental ExhibitionLebanese Artists Association (LAA Gallery), BeirutExhibited work: Each one has from art what art has from itself
• Sep 26 – Oct 6, 2009Crea Numerica →BeirutExhibited work: Digital images · Panel · Lecture
• Feb 10 – Mar 6, 2009Image : Fixe, Mobile, AniméeCentre Culturel Français, BeirutScreened work: Arameans
• Oct 24, 2008Nuit BlancheDawwar el Shams (The Sunflower), BeirutExhibited work: CONNECTED
• Jun 2008Lebanon Now →Lebanese Artists Association (LAA Gallery), BeirutExhibited work: Digital images
• 2006–2008Biennale de Paris XVFrance / LebanonPresented work: Tabbouleh Day
• Oct 29 – Nov 1, 2007Goethe-InstitutBeirutScreened work: Arameans
• Sep 18–19, 2004INGAN IIBerlinScreened work: More than normal
• Mar 4–29, 2004Biennale de Paris XIVEspace SD, BeirutExhibited work: Wanting Is Having · Anonymous
• Oct 9–15, 2003Journées Méditerranéennes des Arts Plastiques →Sousse Cultural Center, SousseExhibited works: CONNECTED, VISITORS · Round table
• Sep 2003JavaMuseumFeature “Current Positions of French Netart”, CologneExhibited work: CONNECTED
• May–Jun 2002L’art c’est secondaire →ENSBA, ParisScreened works: More than normal, Gare de Lyon – Juvisy
• Mar 2000La Fête de l’InternetCité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, ParisExhibited work: Lebanese Group
• Jun 5–12, 1999Ghislain Mollet-ViévilleParisExhibited work: Each one has from art what art has from itself

Conferences, seminars & programmes

• Oct 26 – Nov 3, 2025Alexandre Gurita’s Invisual Art Residency →Zico House, Hamra, Beirut, LebanonLecture
• Apr 2024JEPTAV 2024 →Institut Supérieur des Beaux-Arts de Sousse, TunisiaLecture · Round table
• Nov 2022International colloquium on invisual art in Africa →Yamoussoukro, Côte d’IvoireLecture
• Jun 2022International colloquium on invisual art “Doxa et Paradoxe” →Amphithéâtre Guizot, Sorbonne Université, ParisLecture
• Dec 8–9, 2017Colloquium “Combats pour la culture / Combats de la culture” →Rectorate of the Lebanese University, BeirutRound table
• Nov 8, 2017Study day “Arts et politique culturelle dans le sud méditerranéen” →LESA, Aix-Marseille UniversitéSpeaker
• Sep 7–8, 2017ANdEA summer seminar “A New Europe for a New World: Art Schools in Globalisation” →Strasbourg, FranceRound table
• Oct 11–14, 2016Acta Media 12 – “Le Projet Méta-auctorat” →Paris, FranceLecture
• Mar 16–17, 2016Joint conference of Incubinc/AMI and the Roberto Cimetta Fund →Villa Méditerranée, MarseilleLecture
• 2014–2016IHEAP, session 2014–2016 “L’INVISUEL” →Institut des hautes études en arts plastiques (IHEAP), ParisMaster class (interview)
• Dec 4–5, 2014International colloquium “Penser le numérique” →Institut d’études scéniques, audiovisuelles et cinématographiques, Saint-Joseph University, BeirutLecture
• Nov 29, 2014Journée des écoles supérieures d’art de Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur et Monaco →Villa Méditerranée, MarseilleRound table
• Nov 20–22, 2012MADARAT – Exchange Platform →BeirutPresentation
• Oct 22 – Nov 2, 2012RAMI 3.0 – International Encounters on Arts and Multimedia →BeirutLecture · Seminar · Round table · Professional encounter · Publication
• Feb 27, 201210th UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture: ceremony and round tables →Maison de l’UNESCO, ParisRound table
• Jun 10, 2011WJ-SPOTS, Mal au Pixel festival →Resource center of La Gaîté Lyrique, ParisPresentation
• Nov 9, 2010Workshop “Art and Sciences in the Mediterranean Rim. Which Intercultural Situation? Testimonies and Strategies” →MMSH, Aix-en-ProvencePresentation
• Sep 2006 – Dec 2007RAMI – International Encounters on Arts and Multimedia →Marseille, Aix, Beirut and AlexandriaSeminars (3) · Representation
• Jun 2–3, 2005World Summit Contributory Conference on ICT & Creativity →Vienna, AustriaRound table
• Sep 4–5, 2004Experts meeting, UNESCO Digi-arts →Ars Electronica, LinzExpert

Festivals & video screenings

• Dec 18–22, 2020Bosnia Herzegovina Looks Around →ParisJury · Screened works: More than normal, Arameans
• Oct 16, 2013Festival dokumentARTPolandScreened work: More than normal
• Mar 2003–Sep 2012Festival International Signes de NuitParis, Düsseldorf, Ankara, Bursa, Izmir, Nuit Blanche 2005, RotterdamScreened works: More than normal, Arameans
• Feb 24–26 & Mar 3–5, 2012CologneOFF · Art Video ExchangeIndia · Tromsø, NorwayScreened work: Arameans
• Jun 2–3 & Nov 14–18, 2011Art Video Exchange · CologneOFFOslo · Mexico CityScreened work: Arameans
• 2009VIDEOFORMES · Casablanca Video Art Festival · Les VagamondesClermont-Ferrand · Morocco · ÉvryScreened work: Arameans (VIDEOFORMES, Casablanca)
• Dec 20, 2008Espace le Scribe-l’HarmattanParisScreened work: Arameans
• Jan–Nov 2008transmediale · LOOP’08 · Instants Vidéo · INVIDEOBerlin · Barcelona · Marseille · MilanScreened work: Arameans
• Mar–Oct 2008Barricades without borders · LiteSide · Oslo ScreenSarajevo · Amsterdam · OsloScreened work: Arameans
• Apr 2008European Media Art Festival 2008 →Osnabrück, GermanyLecture
• Oct 26, 2005Back StageBeirutScreened work: Gare de Lyon – Juvisy
• Feb 2005transmediale.05 →Haus der Kulturen der Welt, BerlinLecture
• Oct 2004–Jan 2005Cinémathèque Québécoise · Espace SD · Goethe-InstitutMontréal · BeirutScreened works: More than normal, Gare de Lyon – Juvisy

Art fairs

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

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.