Sliman Mansour is one of Palestine’s most celebrated artists, known for transforming the struggle of his people into powerful visual narratives. Born in 1947 in Birzeit, he grew up surrounded by the landscapes that would later define his work—rolling hills, ancient olive trees, and the resilience of Palestinian farmers. But as occupation took hold, these familiar sights became symbols of loss, resistance, and identity.

Mansour’s art is deeply rooted in Palestinian heritage. His paintings tell the story of a nation—orange groves recalling the lands lost in 1948, olive trees symbolizing resistance after 1967, and Palestinian women in embroidered dresses embodying both tradition and revolution. His most famous work, Jamal al-Mahamel (Camel of Hardships), depicts a porter carrying the weight of Jerusalem, an image that became an icon of Palestinian perseverance.

During the First Intifada, Mansour took his defiance even further. He and fellow artists Vera Tamari, Tayseer Barakat, and Nabil Anani founded the New Visions movement, rejecting Israeli art supplies and turning to Palestinian soil itself. With mud, henna, and coffee, he crafted artworks that quite literally carried the land within them, a testament to endurance and belonging.

Beyond his paintings, Mansour shaped the Palestinian art movement. He co-founded the League of Palestinian Artists and later the Al-Wasiti Art Center in Jerusalem, creating spaces where Palestinian artists could thrive despite censorship and occupation. His work has been displayed worldwide—from Paris to Abu Dhabi—earning him international recognition, including the Palestine Prize for Visual Arts and the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture.

For Mansour, art is more than expression—it is a form of resistance, a bridge between generations, and a voice for a people who refuse to be erased. His legacy is not just in museums but in the hearts of Palestinians and all who see in his work the unbreakable spirit of a nation.