Kamel El Baba is one of the most accomplished contemporary calligraphers in the Arab world.  Born in Sidon (Saida), Lebanon in 1905, he learned the art of calligraphy at an early age at the hands of his father, Sheikh Salim El Baba -- who taught Arabic calligraphy and literature at the Islamic College in Beirut -- and then from Najeeb Hawawini, Egypts most esteemed calligrapher at that time.

In 1932, Kamel El Baba began his professional career in calligraphy by working with publishers of newspapers and magazines in Lebanon and other Arab countries, and producing many paintings ("lawhat") which were displayed in art galleries and exhibitions throughout Lebanon. He also taught calligraphy at the Lebanese University School of Fine Arts and the Legislative College in Beirut.  At his workshop in downtown Beirut, he tutored many calligraphy amateurs and enthusiasts, some of whom became professional calligraphers later on.

After retirement, he published "Rouh Al-Khatt Al-Arabi" (The Spirit of Arabic Calligraphy), a book in which he presented a study of the art and history of Arabic calligraphy, as well as a collection of the most splendid works in this field.