Walid Raad

Walid Raad is a contemporary artist and writer from Lebanon. He was born in Chbanieh in 1967 and studied at the University of Massachusetts and the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Raad's work is primarily focused on the history and culture of Lebanon, particularly during the period of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). He often uses a variety of media, including photography, video, and performance, to explore themes of memory, trauma, and the relationship between art and politics.

One of Raad's most famous works is the ongoing project "The Atlas Group," which uses fictional archives and documents to explore the history of the Lebanese Civil War. Through this project, Raad challenges conventional notions of historical truth and encourages viewers to question their own understanding of history and memory.

Raad's work has been exhibited widely in galleries and museums around the world, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Louvre in Paris. He has also received numerous awards for his work, including the Hasselblad Foundation International Award in Photography and the Alpert Award in the Arts.