Raya Matta, born in Paris in 1980, raised in Athens, with strong ties to Beirut, is an artist whose personal journey has profoundly influenced her artwork.

Therefore, questioning the notion of belonging lies at the core of her artistic explorations.

Her childhood was marked by drawing, which she passionately pursued from a young age and continued to develop through various art contests and open calls. Later, in 1998, Raya moved permanently to Beirut, and studied architecture at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA), a discipline that enhanced the perception of structure and balance in her artistic creations.

After a few years working exclusively in architecture, she decided in 2009 to fully dedicate herself to painting, using mainly acrylic paint, due to intolerance to turpentine.  

From 2009 to 2015, her work was showcased in her own studio and exhibition space called 'the artspot', located in Tabaris. She then moved to larger premises on Dfouni Street, until 2020.

Travelling back and forth between Athens and Beirut, and embracing both cultures, had a great impact on her life and art, leading her to reconcile with her Levantine identity, whilst exploring cultural, contemporary and universal themes.

Her artistic style is characterized by the use of pure colors and an off-centered composition that echoes her architectural background. She draws inspiration from the bold colors, strong contrasts and clear compositions of pop art movement artists such as David Hockney or Richard Hamilton, and admires the works of young artistic  deconstructionists like Kat Kristof (b.1986), or the collage-like paintings of Isabelle de Kleine, and the simple yet eye catching creations of spanish artist Elena Gual . As Oumaya Soubra’s production (1926-2024) reveals, emptiness does not mean a lack of inspiration, quite the contrary. It questions an aesthetic and philosophical subject.

Raya Matta's works not only depict scenes but also challenge viewers with deep societal issues, as well harsh realities. She uses emptiness and fullness to create compositions that defy conventions and evoke a reminiscence of architectural visual language.

Finally, her creations incorporate symbolic yet familiar elements such as totems and suitcases, metaphorically representing questions of identity and belonging. Through her art, Raya Matta invites everyone to contemplate their own experiences and their place in the complex contemporary world.