ABOUT THE ARTIST
The artist, who chooses to remain anonymous, spent much of her life in Palestine. She became an adopted child of Gaza's orange blossom scented coastline and the za’atar and sage perfumed hills of the West Bank, quickly embracing her Palestinian identity. Her fluency in Arabic developed naturally—over her needle and thread while embroidering, during years of dedicated work alongside Palestinian communities, and in the warm embrace of women in Palestinian kitchens. As she raised her own Palestinian children, she lived through the political transformations and cultural “sumud” (steadfastness) of the Palestinian experience, an enduring resilience that transcends and informs her art.
Her work prominently features the Palestinian woman, floral and arboreal symbols of Palestinian identity, intricate embroidery patterns, and evocative cityscapes. These elements serve as windows into her life in Palestine and her intimate connection with the Palestinian people and their history.
Gaza, Ramallah, Jerusalem, Jaffa, the Mediterranean Sea, an aunt, a grandmother, a beloved friend—these personal and geographical motifs emerge in her abstract works, weaving together the many threads of Palestinian identity, history, and culture. Her pieces also reflect journeys across the Levant and Mediterranean, through Turkey and Greece, and ultimately back home—encounters with grief, resistance, and resilience as her world continued to transform.
The artist now resides in rural Vermont.
ABOUT THE ART
The artwork captures the artist’s profound love for the Middle East and the rich, intricate tapestry of the Arab world. Blending realism with imagination, her pieces evoke the deep pathos of the human condition, particularly as it is lived and experienced in the region.
Her art draws inspiration from the medieval cities of the Arab world, where vibrant tiles, intricate patterns, bold colors, and timeless architecture leave their imprint on every painting. These works balance impressionistic influences with deeply personal depictions of lived experiences and cherished memories, creating a visual narrative that resonates with both intimacy and universality.