Maroun Hakim: A Life in Art
A Lebanese artist whose five-decade journey blends painting and sculpture into a prolific, evolving body of work.
By
Sep 1, 2025
NATIONWIDE - SEPTEMBER 2025 - (USAnews.com) — In the village of Mazraat Yachouh, perched above the bustle of Beirut, the sound of chisels against stone and brushes sweeping across canvas has echoed for more than half a century. Within the walls of his atelier, Maroun Hakim has lived a life entirely devoted to art. Every curve carved in marble, every stroke of gouache or pastel, is a dialogue between his vision and the material before him. For Hakim, the act of creation is not simply work; it is breath, ritual, and a way of living.
Over the course of fifty years, he has built a body of work that straddles two disciplines often considered separate: painting and sculpture. Yet in his hands, they are deeply connected. His paintings carry sculptural volume, while his sculptures radiate painterly rhythm. This balance has made him one of Lebanon’s most recognized artists, with a prolific creative spirit that continues to evolve even today.
Origins Rooted in Lebanon
Maroun Hakim’s journey began in Mazraat Yachouh, a village whose natural beauty would become both his muse and his anchor. Lebanon’s mountains, stones, and olive groves shaped his early imagination. “My relationship with nature, my homeland, and my village is vital to my work,” he reflects. These landscapes, infused with both resilience and serenity, became a recurring undercurrent in his art.
From the beginning, M. Hakim refused to confine himself to one medium. He explored acrylics, oils, watercolor, pastel, and gouache, often shifting between them with curiosity. At the same time, he returned repeatedly to sculpture, carving wood, marble, and steel into volumes that embodied gesture and form.
A Journey of Experimentation
Experimentation has defined M. Hakim’s creative process. While others may view painting and sculpting as opposites, he considers them part of a continuum. He has often said that his sculptor’s eye informs his painter’s hand. The play of shadow and volume in his drawings reflects the same instinct that guides his chisel.
In his atelier, canvases lean against stone blocks waiting to be carved. The air carries the scent of oil paint and wood dust. To an outsider, the contrast might seem chaotic, yet to M. Hakim, it is harmony. He moves between mediums with ease, each feeding into the other. This refusal to limit himself is part of what sets him apart from many of his contemporaries.
The Human Form as Compass
At the heart of M. Hakim’s art lies the human form. “While concentrating on the human body, I go from reality to start again in the adventure of discovering endless riches hidden in a curve, an expression, a shadow, or a simple gesture,” he explains.
For him, the human figure is not merely anatomical; it is emotional and symbolic. A curve of a shoulder might become an abstraction of resilience. A tilt of the head might capture longing. His sculptures breathe with quiet energy, while his paintings pulse with color that suggests inner life.
This devotion to the body as subject gives his art both accessibility and universality. Whether a viewer is familiar with Lebanon’s artistic heritage or encountering his work for the first time abroad, there is a human connection that transcends language.
Turning Points in a Prolific Career
Several key decisions shaped M. Hakim’s trajectory. The choice to embrace both painting and sculpture as equal pillars of his practice was one. Another was his interest in mixed media, including assemblage and experimental techniques that blurred traditional boundaries. These directions kept his work fresh and gave it resonance across decades.
Perhaps most importantly, M. Hakim has made a conscious choice to prioritize evolution over repetition. While many artists find a style and settle into it, M. Hakim continued to push forward. Each new body of work offers something different, sometimes brighter, sometimes contemplative, always deeply alive.
The Atelier: A World of Creation
Today, M. Hakim spends most of his time in his atelier in Mazraat Yachouh, Lebanon. It is here that he is fully dedicated to creation, surrounded by tools, pigments, and works in progress. The atelier is both workshop and sanctuary, where he continues to explore new materials and revisit old ones.
This daily commitment speaks to his philosophy: that art is not a career but a way of life. Even after fifty years, M. Hakim remains insatiably curious, still chasing the “endless riches” hidden in every gesture and shadow.
Unique Among Lebanese Artists
What makes Maroun Hakim distinctive is not only his mastery of multiple mediums but also his prolific output. Few artists maintain such a balance of quality and quantity across decades. His work feels both expansive and deeply personal, reflecting Lebanon’s natural and cultural landscape while speaking to universal themes of humanity and expression.
In a creative field where artists often choose between painting and sculpture, M. Hakim insists on both and excels in both. This duality is rare, and it is precisely what has made him stand out as one of Lebanon’s significant artistic voices.
A Living Legacy
For collectors, curators, and admirers, Hakim’s art represents more than aesthetic value. It is a record of perseverance, evolution, and devotion to craft. Each painting and sculpture is a piece of a larger journey, one that reflects not only Hakim’s personal evolution but also the story of Lebanese art over the past half-century.
Through exhibitions, private collections, and his growing digital presence, Maroun Hakim continues to reach new audiences. His works can be discovered through his website, his social platforms, and his profiles on international art platforms.
Explore the World of Maroun Hakim
To enter the world of Maroun Hakim is to enter a dialogue with color, stone, form, and spirit. His art offers not just visual impact but connection, an invitation to see humanity reflected in shadow, curve, and gesture.
For those who seek art that is both timeless and ever-evolving, Hakim’s work provides a rare opportunity. Whether through the vibrancy of his paintings or the enduring solidity of his sculptures, his creations are testaments to a life lived fully in art.
Explore his portfolio, discover works available for acquisition, and experience firsthand the vision of an artist who continues to shape Lebanon’s cultural landscape.
