Ramallah Art Fair 2026
Narratives Under Occupation

Ramallah Art Fair Fifth Edition: Narratives Under Occupation is a reflection of the Palestinian reality shaped by living under occupation in the eyes of artists from Palestine and the Golan Heights, following two years of ongoing genocide in Gaza. Forty-two artists explore contemporary themes of displacement, loss, identity, memory, and the daily realities under oppression while also presenting artworks that envision a future without occupation. Resistance and resilience are central subjects in the artistic production of the fifth edition of the Art Fair, which is divided into two sections: Contemporary and Rare.

In the Contemporary Section, Maisara Baroud from Gaza participates with original artworks from his powerful series I’m Still Alive, which depicts the daily anguish of life in Gaza during the genocide. Sari Tarazi also contributes with a stunning series of photo montages, created from images captured during street demonstrations in Palestine protesting the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Bashar Khalaf presents a new body of work examining a devastating fire in Ramallah’s main vegetable market, sparked by Israeli military incursion and the ignition of tear gas bombs that reduced the market to ashes.

Inass Yassin participates with two artworks titled 100 Oranges in Yafa and Mohammad Returns Home. The latter is a depiction of preparations for a welcome ceremony with images of artworks in the background. Yassin’s work is dedicated to the Palestinian artist Mohammad Alhaj from Gaza, whose work was lost under the rubble. Noor Elshaer from the Golan Heights participates for the first time in Ramallah Art Fair with a series of artworks on the theme “Tayyat” (Folds). Her works feature internal conflicting emotions that accompany the experience of motherhood and the daily rituals, such as folding scarves, which symbolize closeness, contentment, and the memories they carry.

In the Rare Section, which was inaugurated last year and has received significant attention, a work by Syrian artist Burhan Karkutli (1932-2003) is on display (Offset lithograph of ink drawing on paper, 1995). Unusually colored, the artwork is a typical example of his style, depicting men, women, and animals within the context of village life as a scene in a story. Motifs and patterns fill the composition, adding richness and detail to the scene. A rare edition of a work by artist Juliana Seraphim (1934-2005) is also on display (Etching, 1970). The artist, displaced in 1948, explored themes of homeland, memory, femininity, and identity through her surrealist style. Also featured a colorful work (watercolor and gold leaf on Arche paper) by artist Vladimir Tamari (1942-2017), dated 2005. A rare silkscreen by artist Laila Shawa (1940-2022), depicting lilies, participates this year. Among other artists’ works, the section includes a piece by artist Shafik Radwan, who lost all of his works in the rubble of his home in Gaza.

Participating artists in the contemporary section: Ahmad Canaan, Alaa Albaba, Ayman Essa, Alaziz Atef, Bashar Alhroub, Bashar Khalaf, Bashir Makhoul, Bashir Qonqar, Fouad Agbaria, Heba Tannous, Ikram Halabi, Inass Yassin, Khaled Hourani, Maisara Baroud, May Murad, Mira Shihadeh, Mohammed Joha, Noor Jabareen, Noor Elshaer, Rahaf Haj Ali, Rehaf Batniji, Sami Zarour, Sari Tarazi, Shada Safadi, Sireen Khalifeh, Vera Tamari, Yazan Abu Salameh, Abdulrahman Katanani (guest artist). Participating artists in the Rare Section: Burhan Karkutli, Fayez Sirsawi, Hosni Radwan, Juliana Seraphim, Kamal Boullata, Laila Shawa, Osama Said, Nabil Anani, Sager Alqatil, Samia Halaby, Shafik Radwan, Sliman Mansour, Tayseer Barakat, and Vladimir Tamari.

Running until 29 March 2026, the fair offers artworks at accessible prices, encouraging new collectors to take advantage of this annual event to acquire Palestinian art.