Mouna Rebeiz's Tarbouche Paintings at Palazzo Mocenigo Explore Identity and Gender

The Museo di Palazzo Mocenigo in Venice hosts 'Le Tarbouche. Quando un accessorio diventa simbolo', a solo exhibition by Lebanese-Canadian artist Mouna Rebeiz, running until November 8, 2026. Curated by Roberta Semeraro and Chiara Squarcina, the show presents over thirty works, including historical paintings and new pieces created for the Venetian venue. The tarbouche, a traditional Islamic male headgear dating to the 14th century, is reimagined as a symbol of female identity, challenging gender roles and cultural stereotypes. Rebeiz, born in Beirut in 1957, studied psychology at the Sorbonne and Saint Joseph University, and trained in painting with Alix de la Source at the Louvre and Abraham Pincas at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. Her work references European figurative tradition, with monumental female figures inspired by the Three Graces. The tarbouche project began in 2015 with a show at the Saatchi Gallery in London, benefiting Innocence in Danger. The exhibition also features fifteen tarbouche reinterpretations by designers including Nathalie Rykiel, Marni, Jimmy Choo, Paola Caovilla, and Zaha Hadid. A rare Venetian dogal headgear from the Civic Museums of Venice inspired new works linking Mediterranean and Venetian history. A catalogue is published by Maretti Editore. On September 10, 2025, a related exhibition 'L’Indovino' opens at the Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia in Rome. Rebeiz lives and works between London, Paris, and Milan.