Born in new York, Willy Aractingitook up painting aged just 12 years, honing his skills in Egypt, where he was raised by extended family.

His work has been featured in over 100 exhibitions in Lebanon, France, the UK and the US. A retrospective show at the Sursock Museum in 2017 spanning 1973 to 2003 and titled ‘Les Mondes de Willy Aractingi’ (The Worlds of Willy Aractingi), reaffirmed his status as one of Lebanon’s most talented modernists.

“Je sais qu’un jour je serai reconnu comme un grand artiste, c’est une question de temps, si je vis assez longtemps et si j’arrive à laisser une œuvre importante... Je vais travailler tant que je peux afin de finir les Fables pour Juin 95. Ce sera l’œuvre de ma vie qui fera date”.