A Pioneer of Modern Lebanese Sculpture: The Life and Legacy of Michel Basbous Michel Basbous, born in the small village of Rachana, Lebanon, in 1921, emerged as a pivotal figure in the development of modern sculpture within the Middle East. His artistic journey was one deeply intertwined with his homeland—a landscape that would become both muse and medium for his powerfully abstract creations. From humble beginnings experimenting with wood and stone as a child, influenced by his father’s own artistic pursuits as a priest, painter, and calligrapher, Basbous embarked on a path that would ultim…