Village Celebration, acrylic on wood composite, 27 1/2" x 48 1/2", 1985

The works of Abdul Hay Mussalam provide a unique insight into the recent cultural history of Palestine. Mussalam, a self-taught artist, creates relief paintings that are based on traditional Palestinian village life before Al Nakba (The Expulsion) and on his military experience as a professional solider. He served in three wars in Israel, Lebanon and North Africa before becoming an artist. He makes his own art materials out of a potent mixture of sawdust and wood glue. Mussalam lives in a refugee camp in Jordan where his life's dream is to establish a small museum to house his artwork.

Uprising in the Occupied Territories,
acrylic on wood composite, 28 1/2" x 23",
1982

Abdul Hay Mussulam
Born 1933 in Wawayma, Palestine
Self-taught
Lives in Amman, Jordan