Colette Acra is an American Lebanese artist, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. Her passion for art emerged in early childhood, when she began sketching the people around her, her mother knitting, her father watching television, her brothers reading or studying. As she grew, drawing became a natural part of her daily life, filling the margins of her school notebooks with portraits, figures, and scenes inspired by the world around her.
After graduating from the American University of Beirut, Colette pursued her artistic education at the Académie Michelange des Beaux Arts and later at the Lebanese University. She established her own art studio in Beirut, creating a space where artists and professors could gather, exchange ideas, and nurture creativity.
Living through Lebanon's civil war, traveling extensively, and building a successful international career, culminating as General Manager of Lufthansa German Airlines, enriched her perspective and profoundly influenced her artistic vision. Throughout every stage of her life, creativity remained a constant, expressed not only through painting but in everything she pursued.
Since relocating to San Diego, California, in 2013, Colette has devoted herself fully to her artistic journey. Her paintings are inspired by the beauty found in everyday life, the places she has explored, the cultures she has embraced, and the emotions that connect us all.
A lifelong pianist, Colette often draws inspiration from music, translating rhythm, harmony, and movement into expressive compositions rich in color and energy. Her work reflects a lifelong curiosity, a deep appreciation for beauty, and a desire to create paintings that resonate on both an emotional and personal level.
Colette's paintings have been exhibited in galleries and exhibitions throughout the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, and are held in private collections around the world.
Personal Reflection:
"Every painting begins with an emotion, a memory, a place, or the rhythm of a melody. Inspired by the people, cultures, travels, and experiences that have shaped my life, I use expressive color, texture, and movement to create paintings that tell a story and invite viewers to pause, reflect, and form their own personal connection. For me, art is more than something to be seen; it is something to be felt."