Mazen Khaddaj (b. 1985) is a multidisciplinary Lebanese/ German artist working in painting, performance, video art, and installation. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design from the American University of Science and Technology in Beirut in 2008. His background includes working as an Art Director in multinational advertising companies for several years before eventually dedicating himself fully to the arts.
Mazen Khaddaj (b. 1985) is a Lebanese/German multidisciplinary artist working across painting, performance, video, and installation. He holds a BA in Graphic Design from the American University of Science and Technology in Beirut (2008) and began his career as an Art Director before dedicating himself fully to art.
Khaddaj’s practice explores identity, belonging, human interaction, immigrant experience, and his spiritual path, moving between the stillness of painting and the fluidity of performance, video, and installation. His work has been exhibited internationally in Lebanon, Germany, Bahrain, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the USA, including presentations at the Museum der Bildenden Künste Leipzig and the Grassi Museum in Leipzig. His work is also held in the permanent collection of MACAM in Lebanon. In 2020, he received an Honorable Mention at Kasseler Dokfest, and his exhibition Backbone was nominated for the Berlin Art Prize in 2022.
After a decade in Germany, Khaddaj now resides in his hometown of Aley, Lebanon, where he continues to develop his multidisciplinary practice.
Museums:
• Grassi Museum, Leipzig, Germany, Spot The Foreigner video installation | 2019
• Museum der Bildenden Künste, Leipzig, Germany, The Laundry Room, solo show | 2019
• MACAM Contemporary Art Museum, Lebanon, The Eye video Installation, part of their permanent collection
Awards/ Festivals:
Berlin Art Prize 22 nomination for my exhibition “Backbone” | 2022
Honorable mention award for the Video Installation The Artists Are Not Present by the jury of The Golden Cube of Kassler Dokfest 37 | 2021
This Is An Intervention, Pandemic Films, Berlin, Germany, Today Olives Tomorrow Olives Everyday Olives video performance | 2020
Solo Exhibitions:
• “As If I Built A Planet – The LT Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon | 2026
• MOUNTAINS OF LIGHT – The LT Gallery – Beirut, Lebanon | 2025
• New Self Found – Urbanist Art Gallery – Dubai, UAE | 2023
• Backbone - Blacke & Vargas, part of Berlin Art Prize - Berlin, Germany | 2022
• Displaced Identity - 31927_2 Gallery - Toronto, Canada | 2022
• Visible Thoughts - KunstKan Gallery - Amsterdam, The Netherlands | 2021
• Lutzner Street 7 - Albareh Art Gallery - Manama, Bahrain | May 2020
• I am a Foreigner - WerkStadt - Berlin, Germany | January 2020
• I End to Begin - 392Rmeil393 - Beirut, Lebanon | 2019
• I am a Foreigner – GAPGAP - Leipzig, Germany | 2017
• Emotion in Motion - Artspace Hamra - Beirut, Lebanon | 2016
• The Middle State - 392Rmeil393 - Beirut, Lebanon | 2015
• The Middle State at The University Of Balamand - Balamand, Lebanon | 2015
• Bonds - Art Circle - Beirut, Lebanon | March 2013
Collective Exhibitions:
• INTERFERENCE – The LT Gallery – Beirut, Lebanon | 2025
• TANGLED RIBBONS – The LT Gallery – Beirut, Lebanon | 2024
• “Ballast” at Soil Art Gallery, Seattle, Washington, USA | 2022
• “Fluidity” at Kib Raum Fur Kunst, Berlin, Germany | 2022
• "Die Suche nach der inneren Heimat“ at Lichthausehalle, Halle, Germany | 2021
• “5Rooms/ 5Artists” at Die Fabrik, Berlin, Germany | 2020
• “Delicious Procession” at Kinstkraftwerk, Leipzig, Germany | 2020
• “You’re not my Real Sun” at A&O Kunsthalle (Leipzig Germany) | 2019
• “Located - Dislocated” at Krudebude (Leipzig, Germany) | 2019
• “Conversations With Self” at Albareh Art Gallery, Manama, Bahrain | 2018
• “42 Contemporary Artists”, Berlin, Germany | 2018
• “KUDUS” at Grand Cevahir, Istanbul, Turkey | 2017
• “Summer collective” at Artspace Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon | 2016
• “Hot House” at Pilotenkuche/ Spinnerei, Leipzig, Germany | 2015
• “Compilation2013” at Art Circle, Beirut, Lebanon | 2013
Art Residency:
Pilotenkuche International Art Residency, Leipzig, Germany | 2015 - 2016 - 2020
Education:
• BA in Graphic Design at The American University of Science and Technology, Beirut, Lebanon | 2004 – 2008
• Guest student at The Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig| 2018 – 2019