Bios

Palestinian Jerusalemites have made myriad and diverse contributions to their city’s history and community fabric. Here we profile some of those people—past and present; famous and obscure—whose lives and work and stories have helped shape the larger Jerusalem Story over time.
Jumana El Husseini

A Jerusalem artist in exile whose predominant themes revolved around depicting the city of her birth

Samia Halaby

A pioneer of abstract painting whose art has been exhibited in museums, galleries, and art fairs throughout the world

Mahmoud Shukair

A prolific novelist who was exiled from Jerusalem for almost two decades, yet says “Jerusalem is a part of me and I am part of Jerusalem.”

Find alphabetically by first letter of last name

Jack Persekian

An artist, curator, and cultural institution builder who believes that Jerusalem is more than a symbol of holiness