Jacques Menassa was born in Ghosta, Lebanon, in 1956. He graduated in Political and Administrative Sciences from the Lebanese University of Beirut in 1982. He developed a love for photographic art from childhood, which led him to study the technical side of photography at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) during a summer session in 1979. In 1981, he created the slideshow for Philippe Akiki’s theatrical play for the village festival. In 1982, he held his first solo exhibition in Ghosta titled “Forgotten Heritage,” followed by participation in various group exhibitions.

From 1985 to 1988, he attended photography courses at USEK, rejoined collective exhibitions, and won three organized contests: 1st prize in the “Montage” contest in 1986, 2nd prize in the “Man and His Environment” contest in 1986, and 2nd prize in the “Everyday Life” contest in 1987.

In 1992, in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state in Brazil, he won 1st prize in a contest organized by “Amafoto.” In 1993, he was invited to a solo exhibition at the “Centro de Artes Chaminé,” titled “From the Amazon with Love.” He then created three other exhibitions: “Amazonia uma imagem a mais” at the Getulio Vargas Foundation (1994); “Amazonia, color and beauty” at Amazonas Shopping (1994); and “Mulheres” at the Centro de Artes Chaminé (1996). During this period, he also participated in two other group exhibitions in 1993 and 1995.

From December 1993 to June 1997, he prepared and conducted six two-month photography art courses. More than 300 participants attended at the Centro de Artes Chaminé. He also organized 16 group exhibitions showcasing his students’ work and two photo contests: “Manaus meu ciúme” in 1996 and “Un olhar sobre Amazonia” in 1997. The latter was a regional event supported by the “Rede Amazonica” TV network, affiliated with “TV Globo,” involving the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Rondônia, and Roraima.

In 1995, Joaquim Marinho, the Amazonas Minister of Culture, honored him with a letter of recognition for his artistic work in Manaus.
With the emergence of the internet, he launched with his students a site titled “Un Olhar Sobre o Amazonas.”

In 1994, he participated in the 6th National Meeting of Photo and Film Reporters in Rio de Janeiro.

In 1994 and 1996, the newspaper “A Critica” invited him to be one of the judges of the Amazonian Carnival, which annually awards the “Estandarte do povo” prize to the winner.

In 1998, the Brazilian Ministry of Culture, “Funarte,” invited him and the photography club he founded in Manaus in 1994 to take part in the “Fotonorte” project. This gathered photographers from Brazil and neighboring countries, resulting in several exhibitions and a publication.

In 1999, he organized the first Visual Art Salon in Ghosta, Lebanon, with a personal exhibition titled “Amazonas.”

In 2000, he exhibited at the restaurant L’Amandier in the old souk of Zouk Mikael, under the theme “Nostalgia,” and organized the second Visual Art Salon with a solo exhibition titled “Reflection and Refraction.”

In 2001, he organized the third Visual Art Salon in Ghosta and a personal exhibition titled “Dialogue of Cultures.” The Brazilian embassy in Beirut published a portfolio of his photos titled “Amazonas.”

In 2002, he held a photography exhibition during the “Val en Festival” in Bkeneya. He also participated in a group exhibition in Bhersaf titled “The Nomads,” published a portfolio called “Lebnan,” and organized the fourth Visual Art Salon in Ghosta with a solo exhibition of the same title. He also took part in the “Mahjar” project in São Paulo, Brazil, with a solo exhibition called “Lebnan.”

In 2003, he organized a retrospective exhibition titled “Nawbé 75 years” in Ghosta, for which he was recognized by the jubilee organizing committee. That year, he also translated from Portuguese to Arabic the book Lula, From Worker to President of Brazil by Roberto Khatlab, published by Dar Al-Farabi, Beirut.

In 2004, he organized the fifth Visual Art Salon in Ghosta with a solo exhibition titled “Philippe Akiki” and a portfolio by the same name. He also participated in the opening of Maria’s Gallery at the Basilica of Our Lady of Lebanon with a permanent exhibition titled Our Lady of Lebanon.

In 2006, he held an exhibition titled “The Amazon” at Beit Mery Country Club.

In 2009, he published the book Saliba Doueihy in Ghosta.

In 2010, he created an exhibition titled “The Amazon: Color and Beauty” at USEK and published the book Our Lady of Lebanon in the Land of the Amazons.

In 2011, he organized the first Visual Art Exhibition in Bzoummar, presented a solo exhibit titled “Details,” and published a book titled Mgr Khairallah Stephan (1860–1945).

In 2012, he held an exhibition titled “Amazon, a Borderless View” at USEK.

In 2013, he held an exhibition titled “Artistic and Historical Photos on the Lebanese Presence in the Amazon” at USEK and presented the opening conference for the symposium on Lebanese presence worldwide. And the theme he addressed was: the Lebanese presence in the Amazon, which was held on September 17 and 28.

In 2014, he held an exhibition titled “Saudade da Minha Amazônia” at the Brazilian Cultural Center in Beirut.

In 2015, he organized the second Visual Art Exhibition in Bzoummar and also the first Visual Art Salon during the 14th Christian Expo in Antelias.

In 2016, he held an exhibition titled “Fragmentos de Lembranças” at the City Museum – Paço da Liberdade in downtown Manaus, Brazil.

In 2017, he organized the second Visual Art Salon during the 15th Christian Expo in Antelias, held an exhibition titled “Aquarela do Brasil” at the Casa de Cultura Joaquim Marinho in Manaus, and was invited by “Rebranding Tripoli” in Lebanon to organize a photo contest that resulted in an exhibition in 2018 at the Safadi Cultural Center in Tripoli and a book. He also organized the third Visual Art Salon at the “Forum of Opportunities and Resources” hosted by Ora Union at the Beirut Forum.

In 2019, he held an exhibition titled “A Look at the Artistic Universe” at the State University of Amazonas (UEA) in Brazil, participated in the “MAO 350” group show at Icbeu Gallery in Manaus, and joined a collective exhibition at Usina Chaminé Cultural Center in Manaus titled “Amazonas Plural.”

In 2021, he organized the sixth Visual Art Salon in Ghosta with a solo show titled “Reflection and Refraction,” and participated in a group exhibition at Palácio Rio Negro Cultural Center in Manaus titled “Discover Manaus.”

In 2022, he organized the seventh Visual Art Salon in Ghosta with a solo exhibition titled “Beirut of My Childhood.”

In 2023, he organized the eighth Visual Art Salon in Ghosta with a personal exhibition titled “Art and Culture.”

In 2024, he held a solo exhibition titled “Tributes, Memories, and Nostalgia” at the City Museum of Manaus – Paço da Liberdade, following an invitation from the city and museum. That same year, he organized the ninth Visual Art Salon in Ghosta with a personal exhibition titled “Through the Course of Life.”

In 2025, he participated in a collective exhibition at Mirante Lúcia Almeida in Manaus titled “Between Angles and Memories.”An exhibition entitled Meu Brasil Brasileiro, presented following an invitation from the Embassy of Brazil in Lebanon, at the Guimarães Rosa Cultural Center in Beirut.

His name has been mentioned in the Dictionary of Contemporary Brazilian Photographers and the Fotonorte II catalog published by the Brazilian National Arts Foundation Funarte.

In 2009 and 2010, he produced two documentary films: one featuring the testimony of Maronite bishop Joseph Mahfouz, posted in Brazil, and another dedicated to Lebanese poet Francis Berry.

Since 1992, he has published numerous articles and research in newspapers and journals in Brazil and Lebanon such as A Critica, O Muhra, Annahar, Al-Anwar, Noun, etc. He has also participated in more than 70 television programs, including “TV Amazonas,” “TV Cultura,” “TV Manchete,” “TV Bandeirante,” “LBCI,” “Future TV,” “Télé Lumière,” “MTV,” “OTV,” “Charity TV,” “La Voix du Liban,” “Radio Liban Libre,” and “Radio Delta,” promoting photographic art, Lebanese immigration, and the beauty and richness of both Brazil and Lebanon.

Beautiful House of Jacques Menassa in Ghosta

Ghosta - Liban
[email protected]
Tel : 961 70 404 410