Beirut Gallery Temporarily Closes During Military Conflict, Reopens Amid Uncertainty
Joumana Asseily, founder of Marfa' Projects gallery in Beirut, temporarily closed her venue on March 5 due to Israeli military actions in Lebanon's southern suburbs. The gallery, established in 2015 in the Port District, had previously been damaged in the 2020 ammonium nitrate explosion that killed over 200 people. Asseily evacuated briefly but has since reopened and traveled to Paris for a scheduled work trip. The gallery is currently showing Lebanese filmmaker Rania Stephan's exhibition 'Isn't It About Time,' which explores apocalyptic themes in science fiction. Despite the dangerous conditions, Asseily expressed determination to continue operating her gallery, which focuses on regional artists.
Key facts
- Marfa' Projects gallery in Beirut temporarily closed on March 5, 2026 due to Israeli military actions
- Gallery founder Joumana Asseily evacuated briefly but has since reopened the venue
- The gallery was previously damaged in the 2020 Beirut port explosion that killed over 200 people
- Current exhibition features Lebanese filmmaker Rania Stephan's work 'Isn't It About Time'
- Asseily remains committed to operating the gallery despite ongoing conflict in the region
Entities
Artists
- Rania Stephan
Institutions
- Marfa' Projects
- Sfeir-Semler Gallery
Locations
- Beirut
- Lebanon
- Paris