QUICK FACTS
Date of Birth
1933
Al-Dawayima, Palestine
Place of Birth
Why Featured?
Abdul Hay Mosallam Zarara is celebrated for his vivid, relief-style artworks that poignantly capture the Palestinian experience, portraying the struggles, resilience, and cultural vibrancy of the Palestinian people. His self-taught, distinctive style and his deep involvement with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) make him a significant cultural figure in Palestinian history.
BRIEF BIO
Abdul Hay Mosallam Zarara was a self-taught Palestinian artist known for his unique acrylic, glue, and sawdust reliefs. His works unflinchingly depicted the Palestinian tragedy and global liberation struggles, blending personal experiences with broader political narratives. Zarara's art is a testament to Palestinian resilience and cultural memory.
LAST UPDATED
DATE
Monday, January 26, 2026
MAJOR MILESTONES
Key dates & turning points
Forced to leave Palestine during the Nakba, 1948
Joined the Palestine Liberation Organization, late 1960s
Developed his unique bas-relief technique in Libya
His work in the 1970s and 80s was well-known across the Middle East
Retrospective at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, 2011
CONTRIBUTIONS
What they did, and why it matters
Development of a unique acrylic, glue, and sawdust relief technique...See More
Artworks depicting the Palestinian struggle and global liberation movements...See More
Representation of Palestinian traditions and women's roles in his art.
Participation in major exhibitions across the Middle East and globally.
Influencing future generations of artists in the Middle East and beyond.
Disclaimer: This chat uses AI to generate responses inspired by the profile content and publicly available information. It does not represent the real person.
Last updated
Jan 26, 2026
DISCOVER
Profiles from the Same Path
A rotating spotlight on voices that shaped Palestine’s culture, thought, and history.

:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/ZACLB2NVDLSBNROGUO7ML32YDA.jpg)