QUICK FACTS
Date of Birth
1971
Shefa-Amr (Nazareth), Occupied Palestinian Territories
Place of Birth
Why Featured?
Abboud's work in art and folklore preserves Palestinian cultural memory through creative interpretations of landscape and myth.
BRIEF BIO
Jumana Emil Abboud is a Palestinian artist whose work spans drawing, video, installation, and performance art. Her practice centers around Palestinian cultural narratives, focusing on folklore, collective memory, and the ongoing impact of displacement and loss. Abboud’s work weaves the stories of Palestine’s past into the fabric of contemporary art, challenging colonial erasure and preserving the landscapes and oral histories of her homeland. Through her work, she evokes a sense of longing, belonging, and resilience, ensuring that Palestinian identity continues to thrive in the face of occupation.
LAST UPDATED
DATE
Monday, January 26, 2026
MAJOR MILESTONES
Key dates & turning points
Born in Shefa-Amr and moved to Canada as a child: Her journey from Palestine to Canada deeply shaped her artistic exploration of identity, displacement, and cultural memory.
Earned a B.F.A from Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem: This milestone marked the beginning of her formal artistic practice that would consistently address Palestinian heritage.
Represented Palestine in international biennales: Abboud’s work has been showcased at major art venues such as the Venice Biennale and Documenta 15, bringing Palestinian art to global audiences.
Created the "Hide Your Water from the Sun" installation: This 2016 project revisited Palestinian haunted water springs, using her art to preserve disappearing natural and cultural landmarks of Palestine.
Featured in solo exhibitions like "The Pomegranate and the Sleeping Ghoul": Her solo exhibitions explore Palestinian folklore, addressing themes of loss, resilience, and the fragmentation of the Palestinian landscape.
CONTRIBUTIONS
What they did, and why it matters
Preserving Palestinian folklore through art: Abboud's works, inspired by tales of water spirits and ghouls, preserve and reinterpret Palestinian cultural narratives.
Reclaiming Palestinian landscapes: Her installations and performances often highlight the fragmentation and erasure of Palestinian lands under Israeli occupation, while offering a space for cultural memory and identity to flourish.
Amplifying Palestinian voices in global art forums: Through her participation in prestigious biennales and exhibitions, Abboud brings Palestinian history and culture to an international stage...See More
Challenging colonial narratives: Her work critiques the settler-colonial erasure of Palestinian history, using art as a medium to resist cultural annihilation.
Incorporating Palestinian oral histories into contemporary art: Abboud blends traditional storytelling with modern artistic practices, ensuring that the cultural heritage of Palestine remains dynamic and accessible to future generations.
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Last updated
Jan 26, 2026
DISCOVER
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