Ouisam Melhem (b. 1974) is a Lebanese painter, sculptor, architect, and landscape designer whose work blends contemporary themes with a unique artistic vision. Holding a BA in Architecture and an MA in Landscape Urbanism, he has over 15 years of experience as a Senior Architect at Nadim Karam and Hapsitus Architects in Beirut, and has taught at the American University of Beirut (AUB), Academie Libanaise des Beaux Arts (ALBA), and the Lebanese University.
Melhem’s artistic practice is defined by five recurring elements — The Human, The City, The Crown, The Bird, and The Cloud — which he uses to create evocative and immersive compositions across painting and sculpture. His work has been exhibited internationally, most notably at the Peoria Riverfront Museum in the USA (2021–2022), where one of his pieces was accepted into the museum’s permanent collection.
Through sketching, painting, and sculptural work, Melhem explores contemporary themes with a visionary approach. He believes, “Art is a fantasy, a poetic consilience, a possibility of realizing a utopian vision for the coming future,” capturing his pursuit of creativity as a medium for poetic and utopian expression.