This is Not an Exhibition

During past wars and under years of siege, Palestinian artists in Gaza have painted on funeral shrouds. In the face of genocide—and the absurd distortions of meaning and normality that come with it—shrouds become canvases. Frames from surviving works are dismantled to fuel fires that offer warmth or cook meagre meals.

“This is Not an Exhibition”, and certainly not a traditional one neatly presenting specific works by their artists. That is beyond our current means. Communication with artists in Gaza is nearly impossible. Like everyone there, they are struggling to survive a genocidal war. Many have faced displacement, hunger, and freezing temperatures. Their homes and studios have been destroyed or are under threat. Artworks have been consumed by fire, shelling, and death. Those outside Gaza are tormented by the suffering and martyrdom of their families. In such conditions, speaking of art has often felt like a disconnected luxury—let alone attempting a conventional exhibition.

As the machinery of destruction turns Gaza’s landscape into grey rubble—devouring colour, detail, and life—this display of works from homes in the West Bank stands as a powerful testament to Gaza’s enduring spirit. For decades, the Strip has endured war after war and an unrelenting siege, and yet continues to rise.

In Gaza, art is not just a witness to suffering—it is a declaration of existence. It defies the dehumanising brutality of occupation.

Participating Artists:
These artists have had their works, memories, loved ones, or lives stolen by the genocide.

The martyr Fuad Khammash, the martyr Shahd Nafith, the martyr Mohammed Sami, the martyr Heba Zaqout, the martyr Fathi Ghaben, Dalia Abdalrahman, Shereen Abedalkareem, Mariam Abuhajar, Mohamed Abusal, Batool Adwan, Ali Alsheikh Ahmad, Farah Ahmad, Jumana Abu Al Aish, Abdel Raouf Al Ajouri, Bassel Aklouk, May Al Aklouq, Esraa Alashqar, Rehaf Al Batniji, Mohammed Al-Dabous, Mohammed Al-dairi, Nida’ Al-Dairi, Maha al-Daya, Tamer Al-Deeb, Mahmoud Alhaj, Mohammed Alhaj, Mohammed Al-Hawajri, Fatima Al-Houbi, Ruqayya Al-Lulu, Mohammed Almadhoun, Kamel Al-Mughni, Ibrahim al-Muzayyen, Raed Al-Nabris, Amal Al-Nakhala, Mohammad Al-Samhouri, Mai Alshaer, Jehad Al-Sharafi, Wael Alsousi, Adel Al Tawil, Shadi Alzaqzouq, Abdel Nasser Amer, Moayed Abu Ammouna, Rana Anani, Salem Awad, Baraa Awoor, Tayseer Barakat, Maysaa Khaled Al Bardaweal, Maisara Baroud, Taysir Batniji, Rana Batrawi, Shehda Dorgham, Mohamad Elfarra, Sameer El-Hallaq, Mohammed Elmashhrawi, Mohammed Emrani, Ayman Essa, Amal al Ghasin, Naghm Al Ghasin, Nabil Abu Ghneimeh, Hazem Harb, Mohammad Harb, Fayez Hasany, Shaima Hassanein, Moeen Hassouna, Suzen Helmi, Soliman Hijji, Bashar Idkaidek, Raed Issa, Ali Jadallah, Mohammed Jahlash, Haifa’ Abu Jarad, Khaled Jarada, Jihad Jarbou, Mohammed Joha, Ismail Kalloub, Hamada El Kept, Ziad Khalaf, Adam Maghari, Basel El Maqousi, Amer Abu Matar, Dina Mattar, Malak Mattar, Kamel Al Moghani, May Murad, Mohammed Musallam, Bayan Abu Nahla, Motaz Naim, Maher Naji, Marwan Nassar, Arab and Tarzan Nasser-Ahmad and Mohammad Abu Nasser, Majdal Nateel, Salman Nawati, Fatma Abu Owda, Abd al-Rahman al-Muzayen, PhD, Sager Al Qatil, Sobhi Qouta, Dorgham Qreaiqea, Shafik Radwan, Juwana Rafeedie, Mohammad Abu Saada, Ahmed Saadoun, Iyad Sabbah, Mariam Salah, Sohail Salem, Awatef Saqqa, Shareef Sarhan, Ashraf Sehwail, Rufaida Sehwail, Fayez Sersawi, Majed Shala, Aya Shaqalean, Laila Shawa, Fahd Shehab, Jasem Shuman, Bashir Sinwar, Mohammad Abu Sitta, Mohanad A. Smama, Khaled Al Suaidani, Maysaa Yousef, Nuheil Zaydiyyeh, Hani Zurob.

The Palestinian Museum extends sincere thanks to its exhibition partners:
A. M. Qattan Foundation, Abdulhadi Yaish, Abed Yaish, Ahed Izhiman, Alaa Salameh, Al-Salam Gallery, Amani Harhash, Amjad Ghannam, An-Najah National University, Ayah Al Aklouk, Bab IdDeir Art Gallery, Bank of Palestine, Bethlehem Gate Gallery, Birzeit University Museum, Chris Whitman – Abdelkarim, Dar Al-Kalima University, Dar Qandeel for Arts and Culture, Diaa Jubeh, Essa Grayeb, Fadia Salfiti, Galeries Lafayette, Gallery One Palestine, George Al-Ama, Ghadeer Dajani, Inas Deeb, Khaled Farraj, Khaled Juma, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Lana Abu-Hijleh, Levantine Gallery, Maha Abu Shousheh, Mahmoud Abu Hashhash, Maysoun Sharqawi, Mohammad Al-Samhouri, Nasser Abdul Hadi, Nisreen Naffa, Ola Salama, Palestine Development and Investment Ltd. (PADICO), Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Palestinian Art Court – Al Hoash, Raed Saadeh, Riwaq – Centre for Architectural Conservation, Rula Alami, Salim Hodali, Samar Abu Shusheh, Sameh Abboushi, Samir Hulileh, Shukri Farouji, Sufian Msha’sha, Suleiman Malihat, Tamer Institute for Community Education, Tayseer Barakat, United Nations Development Programme, Wafa’ Abdel Rahman, Yara Odeh, Yvette and Mazen Qupty, Zawyeh Gallery, Ameed Hamed Al-Hussein (Al Ratrout).