Besada Yakoub, an Egyptian-American sculptor, painter, and artisan, was born in 1972 in Akhmim, Egypt. His artistic journey began at a young age of 7 when he started creating animals with clay. By the age of 12, he was already carving wood and working with metal. His fascination with art and culture was further fueled by visits to the ancient Egyptian tombs on the west bank of the Nile River. In 1999, Besada immigrated to the United States to further his career as a sculptor. He briefly studied art at the Art Students League in New York and became involved with the National Sculpture Society. In 2001, he was hired by the Johnson Atelier Stone Division as a master carver. This opportunity provided him with the tools and space to produce granite sculptures which have become his life’s work. Besada established his own studio in Mount Holly, New Jersey, using the Herk Van Tongeren Memorial Sculpture Award he received in 2001. He continued to work on his projects even after the Atelier closed their Stone Division, deciding to work fulltime in his studio. In 2018, Besada introduced a new style of abstract sculpture called Obeliskism. This unique style uses the geometry of obelisk shapes to create art. His artwork, which is collected by many art collectors in Egypt, Europe, and North America, reflects his ability to work with various materials such as granite, basalt, limestone, marble, wood, metal, clay, and plaster. Throughout his career, Besada has received several grants and awards including one from the George and Helen Segal Foundation in 2003 and another from St. Angelo Museum in 2013. He continues to show his work in various places and remains an active member of the National Sculpture Society.