Shadi Alzaqzouq [Palestinian visual artist, b. 1981 in Benghazi,

Libya, where he spent a large part of his childhood before returning to

Gaza following the Oslo Accords in 1993]. His work reflects his dual

identity and experience in exile, blending realism with symbolic satire to

address contemporary issues of identity, religion, politics, and diaspora.

He began his artistic journey by studying classical music at the Palestinian

Technical College in Deir al-Balah, before turning to visual arts. He earned

a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Paris 8 University in 2010 and

taught visual arts at the Municipal School of Saint-Denis from 2009 to

2012. In 2024, he obtained the National Diploma in Plastic Expression

from the European School of Art in Brittany (Lorient, France).

Alzaqzouq has gained significant international recognition, with solo

exhibitions held in France, the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, and the

United Kingdom. He has also participated in group exhibitions in the

Netherlands, South Korea, Tunisia, Syria, the UAE, and the UK. Notably,

he was one of only three Palestinian artists invited to take part in

“Dismaland”, organized by Banksy in Weston-super-Mare (UK, 2015). He

also represented Palestine at “Crisis of History #2 – Fight History” in

Amsterdam (Feb–Mar 2015), alongside 58 artists from around the world.

In Art Dubai 2012, he made a strong statement with his iconic piece “After

Washing”.

He has received several prestigious awards and international residencies,

including:

•  Hasan Hourani Award (Ramallah, 2005) for his piece “I am the only

guest on my birthday”

•   Young Artist of the Year Award (YAYA) by the A.M. Qattan

Foundation and the French Consulate in Jerusalem, for his project

“Red Line” in 2006, followed by a six-month residency at the Cité

Internationale des Arts in Paris.

His artworks are part of both public and private collections around the world,

including:

•  Barjeel Art Foundation (UAE)

•  Institut du Monde Arabe (Paris)

•  And private collections in the United States, France, Palestine,

Germany, the UAE, and the United Kingdom.

Alzaqzouq currently lives and works in France. His work continues to be

inspired by personal experiences, exile, and popular culture, raising critical

questions about justice, freedom, and belonging.