Waddah Faris, a versatile artist, gallery owner, graphic designer and charismatic cultural figure, died earlier this year. Born in Aleppo in 1940, he moved to Beirut with his parents at the age of 7. After studying in England, he returned to Lebanon in 1963 to work as an illustrator and graphic designer, notably for the daily an-Nahar. His exceptional talent led him to collaborate with many artists and intellectuals of the time. Passionate about painting, theatre, music and photography, he founded Contact with César Nammour and Mireille Tabet, one of the first art galleries in Beirut, and played a decisive role in the exhibition of Arab artists in Europe, notably through his gallery in Paris.