Léa Bou Habib (b. 1993, Lebanon; lives and works in the UK) is a contemporary artist whose practice is rooted in an exploration of time and identity. Born in Lebanon and shaped by formative years in Spain (2014–2018), Léa’s journey has taken her across Europe and the Middle East, deepening her engagement with themes of belonging, emotion, and human connection.

Trained at the prestigious Barcelona Academy of Art, where she mastered figurative drawing, anatomy, and oil painting, Léa developed a signature approach that blends technical precision with vibrant, layered compositions. Her work employs “active imagination” and a process-driven method, allowing oil paint to build up in layers that demystify her subjects. Drawing from surrealism and expressionism, Léa stages visual performances on canvas, capturing moments of transformation and emotional abundance. Her paintings become evolving timelines, reflecting states of agony and enchantment, as well as stories of love, vulnerability, and addiction.

Returning to Lebanon in 2018, Léa became fascinated by the complexities of cultural identity and its entanglement with national and political structures. Her public art projects, documented through video and photography, highlight resistance to adversity and the importance of collective expression in the face of trauma and injustice.

Léa’s work has been featured in prominent exhibitions, including TILT at Hoxton Gallery, London (2021); Éphémère by Retrieving Beirut, Sage Parlor, Beirut (2020); and MISNŌMA at Mau Mau, Barcelona (2017), among others. Committed to making art accessible and impactful, Léa’s practice spans both gallery and public spaces, inviting viewers into a dialogue about the essence of self and society.