05/25/2026
The USEK New York Center and the Holy Spirit University Foundation (HSUF) presented Faces of Lebanon: Portraits and the Making of Identity, an evening dedicated to portraiture, memory, and the many ways identity is carried through faces.
Led by Elsie El Deek Bou Jaoude, Art Historian and Director of the USEK Museum, the gathering brought works from the USEK Museum collection into conversation with a New York audience, creating a meaningful space for dialogue around Lebanese cultural heritage, history, and representation.
The evening was made even more meaningful by the presence of H.E. Mr. Ahmad Arafa, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations in New York, and Honorable Talal Daher, Consul General of Lebanon in New York, alongside friends from New York City Tourism and members of the Lebanese American community.
Together, their presence enriched the dialogue and strengthened the cultural connection between Lebanon and New York through art, heritage, and shared memory.
The gathering was also made possible through the generous support of Masaya Wine and Yara Restaurant NY, whose contribution to the evening’s hospitality helped create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for exchange and celebration around Lebanese culture and heritage.
