Artist Ahmad Kanaan

Ahmed Kanaan:

Artist born in Tamra in 1965

He studied art in the studio of Palestinian visual artist Khalil Rayan in Tamra. Later, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the Betsalel Academy in Jerusalem in 1989. He then worked as an art teacher at the Arab Institute of Sakhnin.

His paintings bear many themes related to Palestinian traditions and culture, such as the Dabkeh, the orchards, the olive harvest, and the sheikh of the Fares.

We see the mother of the Palestinian people figure in most of his artworks, especially in his sculptures. We see how he is influenced by the Canaanite art and how he recreates it   in a more contemporary way.

One of his most important artworks is the painting (Returning to Jerusalem), through which he embodies the right of return which all Palestinians have always dreamed of, as if he inevitably confirms the return to Jerusalem one day. It was shown for the first time in the exhibition (Memory of the Nation) in Gallery 13 in Jordan, which included 20 paintings by five Palestinian artists.

Kanaan was awarded the title of ambassador in the field of visual art during the presentation of his works at the Festival (Mashrad) in Old Acre in 2016.

Kanaan became an international artist, as his artworks spread in many places inside and outside the country after they were sold. He has participated in many group exhibitions, including “Ideas” Exhibition, “50 Years of the Nakba” Exhibition, “Kenan-Kanaan” Exhibition, and the “Peace” Exhibition. He has many solo exhibitions. The most recent exhibition (close to home) in 2018. Other solo exhibitions include (at the beginning of the journey), (Maharith) exhibition in 1989, (Anat) exhibition in 2001,and (Land) exhibition in 2002.