Karim Abu Shakra

Karim Abu Shakra is a Palestinian artist whose work explores nature, memory, identity, and the relationship between people and the land. Working mainly with oil and acrylic painting, he combines personal memories with images drawn from the natural world. The cactus, or sabra, is a recurring element in his work, appearing in different forms and colours as a symbol of endurance, connection to the land, and renewal. His paintings have developed from more realistic representations toward expressive and sometimes abstract forms, while maintaining a strong connection to personal and cultural memory.

Born in Umm al-Fahm in 1982, Abu Shakra grew up in a family with a strong connection to art and was particularly influenced by his late uncle, the Palestinian artist Asim Abu Shakra. He graduated from Beit Berl College's Faculty of Arts in 2004 and has continued to develop his painting practice through a close engagement with nature and childhood memories. His work reflects both his personal experiences and wider questions of Palestinian identity and belonging. Abu Shakra currently lives and works in Umm al-Fahm.