“Jerusalem through the Eyes of Its Artists” Exhibit Opens at Yabous

With a striking interplay of light and darkness, Palestinian artists in Jerusalem showcase their unique styles to weave a vivid narrative of their beloved city through colors, shades, and forms.

Under the title Jerusalem through the Eyes of Its Artists, the Jerusalem Icon of Fine Arts group launched a rich and riveting art exhibition at the Yabous Cultural Centre on February 6, 2025.

Taleb Dweik, a well-respected artist and prominent instructor known for his vibrant and expressive paintings, was a driving force behind the creation of the Jerusalem Icon of Fine Arts group in 2021. Together with fellow artists from Jerusalem, he formed Jerusalem Icon of Fine Arts out of his commitment to supporting local artists. He had taught art to a few exceptionally talented students at Al-Quds University, and it saddened him to see them abandon their art for other professions, forced by the lack of opportunities for artists.

There is no formal entity for Palestinians in Jerusalem, he explains, such as a ministry or art agency that would promote artists and help enable them to make a living through their art.1

Dweik hopes that the Jerusalem Icon of Fine Arts initiative will “take these talented individuals by the hand” and help promote their work. Among the key aims was to enhance engagement (particularly of the youth) in the art scene, as well as portray a positive image of Palestinian, especially Jerusalemite, artists. The initiative was supported by the Union of Charitable Societies, founded in 1958 to develop an effective civil society in Jerusalem.

Twenty-two artists have participated in this exhibit, most of whom are Palestinians from Jerusalem.

Old City resident Shahd Idkidek studied Fine Arts at Al-Quds University with a focus on oil painting, and she also teaches art and therapy for children. She describes her painting in the exhibit, titled Jerusalem’s Breath, as touching on the themes of life and death.

“I’ve loved art since childhood, and I used to participate in workshops whenever possible,” Shahd explains.2 Once she had completed high school, she had her mind set to study fine arts. She pursued her BA at Al-Quds University, where she was pleased to hone her skills and learn from renowned Palestinian Jerusalemite artists Taleb Dweik and Sliman Mansour.

Maher al-Adassi, another participant at the event, is from the Palestinian neighborhood of al-Tur in East Jerusalem. He, too, was always passionate about painting: “Art has always been a hobby of mine,” he says, “and I am always working on refining my craft.”3 

He admits that Jerusalem is a constant theme in his work; the city takes his breath away. “There is so much beauty in Jerusalem . . . I find nowhere else to be quite as aesthetic. It’s practically the museum of the street.”

Nisreen Abu Ghazaleh’s Jerusalem in My Eye is a black-and-white oil canvas. “When you look at it,” Abu Ghazaleh explains, “it may well be Jerusalem in his eye. The elderly man is sitting still in a state of total relaxation. It represents the moment of waiting and enduring with patience, and it captures the old generation, whose solid view of Jerusalem is one which we wish to sustain.”4

Mays Daour was among the popular artists at the exhibition, surrounded by art students who appreciated both her art and her eloquent descriptions of art and culture. The title of her work, The Map Isn’t the Area, suggests that we can’t claim to know a place, because there are psychological and historic dimensions that are not quickly understood. “We often assume that we ‘know’ Jerusalem,” she explains, “but there’s no way to get the full image. With each encounter, we discover something entirely different.”5

Daour, from Beit Hanina, studied at Al-Quds University and is currently an arts trainer and teacher. “I’m a child of this environment,” she insists. “I’m a daughter of Jerusalem.”

Alexandra Alinia, whose portrait Jerusalem’s Grapes showed smiling faces of two women, clarifies that “Every artist has tried to present their own version [of Jerusalem]. Some of them may be more gloomy/dark, but we’re all the same community . . . but with different eyes and vibe.”6 She is particularly fond of capturing joy in people’s faces: “There are happy moments of sheer gratitude even in the harshest times.”

An example of a different vibe is provided by The Path of Freedom by Bayan Sabbah, who captured ‘Aqabat al-Saraya in the Old City of Jerusalem with bright colors. Michel Sansour’s powerful black-and-white painting touched on the idea of eternity, reminding viewers that we humans are fleeting while the place persists. “The grasp of death is ultimately going to catch us,” he explains, “and we must not forget that we will all leave, while Jerusalem will remain.”7

“Artists are a mirror to their generation as well as to their hometown,” Taleb Dweik explains. “It’s their duty to express through art; to demonstrate their presence through the different passageways and seasons. Jerusalem is so rich with ideas that it can inspire an artist not only to create an artwork but to fill up entire art exhibitions.”

Talented artists yearn to showcase their talents and find the optimal artistic, intellectual, and cultural environments to nurture their works. Jerusalem Icon for Fine Arts has as its mission to support artists—particularly young ones. The artists in this initiative, as Dweik explains, are a good mix of levels and generations. “Some of the students I taught have 15-year-old children now . . . There’s a mix here of various skill levels, from hobbyists to intermediates to formally trained professionals and masters. But each one of them has a unique stamp and personality.”

Michel Sansour, who is part of the initiative, explains that Jerusalem Icon of Fine Arts is mainly composed of Jerusalemites, but it also includes artists from different parts of the country. Some of them were not able to attend the exhibit opening, he notes, because they cannot get permits to enter Jerusalem from the Israeli military authorities.

This is not the first place that the Jerusalem Icon initiative has held exhibits. Previously to this show, they’ve held exhibits across the country—at the Haifa Cultural Club, the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit, the Russian Cultural Center in Bethlehem, and Jericho, for example. Exhibits have even been staged outside the country, in Turkey (Ankara and Istanbul), as well as in Amman, Jordan. “We are looking forward to launching another exhibit in Jordan and also in Egypt,” Dweik explains. “It’s important for us to display these artworks and showcase our talent and culture. Our artists are lacking a lot due to the political situation, but the talent is there.”

On February 27, 2025, the artists will open a second edition of the exhibition titled From Galilee to Jerusalem at the French Institute of Jerusalem on Salah al-Din Street in East Jerusalem. Led by Taleb Dweik and Ibrahim Hijazi, this follow-on edition will present the works of 14 artists, half of whom are from the Galilee and the other half from Jerusalem.

The Jerusalem through the Eyes of Its Artists exhibit will run until the end of February 2025, open daily from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.