From Palestine With Art

Telling the Palestinian story through the arts. 

The first Palestinian museum in the Western Hemisphere, Palestine Museum US, is proud to announce that its Collateral Event exhibit at the Venice Biennale Arte 2022 will be re-exhibited at Accademia di Belle Arte di Roma, opening on February 4, 2023. “We are very proud to have our exhibit shown at such a fine art institution,” says Faisal Saleh, founder and executive director of the Museum. “This gives us a great opportunity to fulfill our mission of celebrating and showcasing Palestinian artistic excellence and telling the Palestinian story to a global audience through the arts.”

The museum’s exhibition, features nineteen Palestinian artists residing in Palestine and countries around the world. The participating artists represent wide diversity in geography, demographics, and artistic language. The exhibition features painting, including nine portraits of Palestinians prominent in arts and literature; installation, sculpture, photography, embroidery, textiles, and an 1877 historic map of Palestine.

The exhibit was redesigned to fit the new exhibit hall, Aula Colleoni, by the Accademia under curatorial direction of its director, Cecilia Casorati. “It is really a pleasure to have an exhibition of Palestinian artists,” says Casorati. It is very important because they [our students] don’t know exactly what is going on with Palestinian art.” Casorate, a seasoned curator who took a hand-on approach to the project, adds that she had seen the exhibition at the Venice Biennale last year. “It is a prize for me to  design the exhibit here—to have an idea of how to approach the exhibition in our space.” Casorati further elaborates on her philosophy and approach: “Art must have its own place—visitors are allowed to see—they have the time to stop in front of each painting, each photograph, each sculpture, and to reflect; not only pass through the exhibition without reading [the art].”

An opening ceremony is planned for Saturday February 4 at 5pm local time (Rome, Italy) featuring opening remarks by directors of the Museum and Accademia, and a musical performance of Arabic and Italian songs by Palestinian soprano Zeina Barhoum accompanied on the piano be Marcos Madrigal. A tour of the exhibit led by Casorati will complete the opening event.

Participating artists: Karim Abu Shakra, Salman Abu Sitta, Ghassan Abu Laban, Ibrahim Alazza, Mohamed Alhai, Nabil Anani, Hanan Awad, Jacueline Bejani, Sana Farah Bishara, Susan Bushnaq, Lux Eterna, Nadia Irshaid Gilbert, Samia Halaby, Rula Halawani, Samar Hussaini, Mohamed Khalil, Rania Matar, Nameer Qassim, Taqi Sabateen.

About Palestine Museum US
Palestine Museum US was founded by Palestinian American businessman Faisal Saleh opening its doors on April 22, 2018. Four years later, it continues to be the only Palestinian museum in the Americas with over 1,000 square feet of permanent exhibition space. Its 6,500 square foot galleries feature over 200 works of art by more than fifty artists, in addition to embroidery pieces, thobes (traditional Palestinian dresses), murals, books and artifacts. The museum has hosted music concerts, film screenings, plays, lectures, artist talks and openings. Currently the museum holds regular weekly virtual events, and a weekly film festival attended by large audiences in more than 50 countries.

Press contact:
Faisal.Saleh [​at​] PalestineMuseum.US
T +1 203/530-2248
Founder & Executive Director
Palestine Museum US
1764 Litchfield Turnpike
Woodbridge, Connecticut 06525
USA

Free admission. Press attendance is welcomed. Art on exhibit is available for sale.