Working primarily in painting and mosaics, Rachad Kseibati depicts still lifes, portraits, landscapes and scenes from daily life.
Born in Damascus, Rachad Kseibati (1911–1990) graduated from the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome in 1936. He continued his studies by taking mosaic classes in Ravenna, receiving a diploma in Decoration at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, and a diploma in Painting at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice in 1944.
When he returned to Syria, Kseibati began teaching at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus and the Institute of Teachers. A founding member of many art associations in Syria, he was appointed the President of the Fine Arts Syndicate in the 1970s.
Classically trained, Kseibati’s paintings are serene and meditative with realistic colours and simplified forms. From his depictions of the streets of Damascus to composed still lifes and portraits, they document a moment in time.
Kseibati’s works were acquired by the Syrian Ministry of Culture, National Museum, Damar Museum in Damascus, and are in private collections. He was knighted by the President of Italy and given the Star of Italian Solidarity in 1975. Posthumously, The Ministry of Education in Syria honoured him by naming a primary school after him and The Ministry of Culture organised an exhibition on the anniversary of his death.