Helen Khal was born in 1923 in Pennsylvania to a Lebanese family of Syrian descent. At the age of 23, she visited Lebanon, and her connection to the country led her to stay and pursue her studies at the Academie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts from 1946 to 1948. During this period, she became deeply influenced by French Impressionism, where the use of color became central to her artistic expression.
In 1947, after marrying the Lebanese poet Yusuf el Khal, she moved to New York for a year, enrolling at the renowned Art Students League. This experience helped refine her skills and broaden her artistic horizons. In 1955, Helen returned to Lebanon with her husband and their first child, marking a significant turning point in her artistic style. It was around this time that her work transitioned from Impressionism to Neo-Cubism, with a shift in focus from the object itself to the composition of the artwork.
Her second child was born in 1958, the same year the US Marines entered Lebanon under the pretext of ending the Civil War, a period that significantly influenced her as she navigated personal and political challenges.
Helen Khal once reflected on her identity in a profound way, stating that she was many things—an artist, a writer, an editor, a mother, and a grandmother. Yet, above all, she considered herself a human being. Despite the central role that painting played in her life, she emphasized that it never overshadowed her relationships with others. This philosophy was beautifully captured by her friend and fellow artist, César Nammour, who described her as a woman who balanced art with a deep connection to the human experience.