Hani Zurob
[b. 1976 – Present]
Lives and works in Paris, France

Hani Zurob is an influential contemporary Palestinian-French artist. He is known for his vivid paintings. Zurob is continuously researching within the tangled spaces of the personal, the collective and the human; raising collective and universal questions that result from his individual experiences as well as ones that are suggested or proposed by the aesthetics of his art practice. In his own accountability, he seeks the truth in his art, inviting the viewer to delve into the ultimate space of humanity without capitalizing on their emotions nor with any tastelessness. His works transcend borders and geography at the same time – a mission of art that remains close to the artist’s heart. The majority of his artworks are created using various unconventional mixed medias, in particular tar (zeft in Arabic).

Zurob has gained notable recognition, internationally and at home, and has won several international awards and residencies, including Bourse et Prix Renoir in 2009, as well as named one of ten ‘international artists to watch’ in 2013 by The Huffington Post.

His work is found in several private and public collections internationally including in:
The British Museum in London, England, The Arab American National Museum (AANM) in Dearborn, Michigan; Williamsburg Art & Historical Center (WAH Center) in New York, USA; Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) in Paris, France; Association Renoir in France; Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, France; Mairie de Paris in Paris, France; Hotel de Ville in Paris, France; Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah, UAE; Dar ElNimer for Arts and Culture, Beirut, Lebanon; Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation (DAF) in Beirut, Lebanon; A. M. Qattan Foundation in London- UK and Ramallah- Palestine and Birzeit University Museum in Birzeit, Palestine.

A monograph tracing the development of his work, “Between Exits: Paintings By Hani Zurob” by Kamal Boullata, with an introduction by Jean Fisher, was published by Black Dog Publishing in London, UK in November 2012.

“Hani’s practice provides an important voice in contemporary Palestinian culture, as well as a significant contribution to the creation of an Arab aesthetic. Ultimately though, while Zurob’s art gives powerful expression to the Palestinian collective experience, it can also be seen in the context of more Universal themes of personal identity and embraces humanity beyond the Palestinian context”.
– Black Dog Publishing, London, UK, 2012.

Zurob was born in Gaza’s Rafah Camp, later moved to Nablus, Palestine, where he received a BA in Fine Arts in 1994. Zurob moved to Ramallah, Palestine, from 2001 to 2006, when he received a grant that allowed him to reside in Paris at the Cité Internationale des Arts. In 2002, he was selected to participate in the AM Qattan Foundation’s Young Artist of the Year Award.

• The British Museum in London, England
• The Arab American National Museum (AANM) in Dearborn, Michigan
• Williamsburg Art & Historical Center (WAH Center) in New York, USA
• Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) in Paris, France
• Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, France
• Mairie de Paris in Paris, France
• Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah, UAE
• Dar ElNimer for Arts and Culture, Beirut, Lebanon
• Birzeit University Museum in Birzeit, Palestine
• Yvette & Mazen Qupty Collections of the Palestinian Art Court, Al Hoash in Jerusalem, Palestine
• Association Renoir in Essoyes, France
• Arab American National Museum (AANM) Permanent Collection in Dearborn, Michigan, USA
• Bank of Palestine Museum in Bethlehem, Palestine
• Contemporary Art Platform (CAP), Kuwait; Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation (DAF) in Beirut, Lebanon

• 2013 Artist residency, Le Cube – Independent Art Room, Rabat, Morocco
• 2011 Artist residency, Municipality of la ville de Bobigny, France
• 2009 Bourse et Prix Renoir, Maison de la Vigne, Salle Renoir in Essoyes, France; Zurob is the first Arab national to receive this residency
• 2008 Grand Prize of the International Salon of Contemporary Art in Bourges, France
• 2006 Artist residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, France
• 2002 One of ten artists selected for the Young Artist of the Year Award, A.M. Qattan Foundation in Ramallah, Palestine

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

• 2017 Zeft, Contemporary Art Platform (CAP), Kuwait
• 2015 Low Quality Love, Berloni Gallery, London
• 2013 “Flying Lesson” & “Waitng”, Le Cube – independent art room, Rabat, Morocco
• 2013 Almarkhiya Gallery, Doha, Qatar
• 2011 Hani Zurob, Laureate de Renoir 2009, Gallery Eric Dumont and Renoir Association, Troyes, France
• 2008 Projections, Gallery Rê, Marrakech
• 2008 Standby, Gallery Crous Beaux-Arts, Paris
• 2008 Standby, Wertz Contemporary, Atlanta, GA
• 2008 Standby, Mairie du 5eme – Salle René Capitant, Paris
• 2007 Marbles’ War, Gallery Crous Beaux-Arts, Paris
• 2007 Barrage, Gallery Europia, Paris.
• 2006 Exit, la Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris
• 2006 Siege, Khalil Sakakini Center, Ramallah, Palestine
• 2002 A Song: No means No, as part of the Young Artist Award, A.M. Qattan Foundation, Ramallah, Palestine
• 2001 Dream and after, A.M. Qattan Foundation & French Cultural Center Ramallah, Nablus, Gaza and Jerusalem.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2018

• Interlude, at Palestinian Art Court – Al Hoash gallery, as a part of Qalandiya International 4th edition, Jerusalem
• Pour un musée en Palestine, Institut du Monde Arabe Tourcoing, Tourcoing, France
• Occupied, A selection of Palestinian artworks, Contemporary Art Platform (CAP), Kuwait
• Un œil ouvert sur le monde arabe, Institute du Monde Arabe (IMA), Paris
• Pour un musée en Palestine “Nous aussi nous aimons l’art..”, la collection du Musée d’art moderne et contemporain en Palestine, Institute du Monde Arabe (IMA), Paris
• Cultural Narratives, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, UAE
• Keyword Palestine, Dar El-Nimer for Arts and Culture, Beirut, Lebanon

2017

• Maktoob, Palestinian Art Court – Al Hoash, Jerusalem
• Imago Mundi – Mediterranean Routes, ZAC, ZISA ZONA ARTI CONTEMPORANEE, Palermo, Italy

2016

• Abu Dhabi Art 2016, Contemporary Art Fair, with Gallery One, Abu Dhabi, UAE
• The Map is not the Territory, Fine Arts Gallery / Santa Fe University of Art and Design, Santa Fe, NM
• Questioning the Chroma-Key Principle, Ballhaus Naunynstraße, Berlin
• Along tha Path (Upcoming), 150 Years of Palestine, co-curated by artist Amer Shomali and Researcher and Collector George Al Ama, Bank of Palestine Museum, Bethlehem, Palestine
• The Map is not the Territory, Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, Pendleton, OR
• Unlike Other Springs, Birzeit University Museum, Birzeit, Palestine
• The Map is Not the Territory, Jan 23 – May 15, (AANM) Arab American National Museum, Dearborn, MI

2015

• Walls and Margins, Maraya Art Centre – Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE
• The Map is Not the Territory, International exhibition, Multicultural Arts Center, Boston, USA
• The Map is Not the Territory, International exhibition, P21 Gallery, London, UK
• Insoumission, International exhibition, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
• Insoumission, International exhibition, United Nations Gallery, NY
• Prix Renoir – 5 Lauréats, Association Renoir, Gallery Crous Beaux-Arts, Paris

2014

• Insoumission, International exhibition, Musée de la Palmeraie, Marrakech 2014
• Group Exhibition at Gallery One, Ramallah, Palestine
• The Map is Not the Territory, International exhibition, Levantine Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California
• Hani Zurob & Steve Sabella, ArtInternational Istanbul, with Berloni Gallery
• Guest Artist, Dak’Art 2014 – 11ème Biennale de l’Art Africain, Musée Théodore Monod de l’IFAN, Dakar, Senegal
• The Map is Not the Territory, International exhibition, Levantine Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California

2013

• The Map Is Not The Territory, the Jerusalem Fund Gallery, Washington DC
• Resilience & Light, Studio 3 Gallery exhibition in association with Arts Canteen, School of Arts, University of Kent, UK

2012

• Despite, Curated by Art Canteen, Rich Mix, London
• Comme Un Souffle De Liberté, Fête de L’Humanité, with Gallery Talmart, Paris
• Le Corps découvert, Institut du Monde Arabe – IMA, Paris
• Diversity from the Arab World, Albareh Art Gallery, Bahrain
• Contemplations, Palestinian Art Court – Al Hoash, Jerusalem

2011

• Framed / Unframed, Birzeit University Museum, Palestine
• Group show with various artists, Artspace Gallery, Dubai
• Art Dubai, Contemporary Art Fair, with Artspace Gallery, Dubai

2010

• Tear Down the Walls, Artspace Gallery, Dubai
• Luttes, le cadre du « off » de la Biennale Dak’Art 2010, Théâtre National Daniel Sorano de Dakar, Senegal

2009

• Selected Contemporary Works from the Permanent Collection Part 2 (2002-present), Williamsburg Art & Historical Center WAH, New York City, NY
• Palestine, La création dans tous ses états, the National Museum of Bahrain
• Palestine, La création dans tous ses états, Institut du Monde Arabe – IMA, Paris
• Damas – Paris: regards croisés, National Museum of Damascus, Damascus
• Gaza 60 & Seoul 59, Gallery Young, Seoul-Korea
• Al-Quds: A Celebration of Jerusalem, Nabad Art Gallery, Amman

2008

• 11th International Cairo Biennale, Cairo, Egypt
• Damas – Paris: regards croisés, which was organized by Europia Productions at the Arab World Institute – IMA, Paris
• Performance, La Palestine à Paris, Mairie de Paris, Hôtel de Ville, Paris
• Symposium, Still Life, Henry Moore Institute, Leeds, England
• Les 15, Galerie Rê, Marrakech
• Face à Face, Salon International d’art Contemporain de Bourges, Bourges, France

2007

• Trans Mediterranean Festival 2007, Grasse, France
• Puzzle Project International Festival, Under the title “Conflict”, Bucharest

2006

• July 2006, International exhibition, Gallery Europia, Paris
• Occupied Space , Gallery 27, London
• Made in Palestine, the Bridge Gallery, New York

2005

• Palestine: Peintures et Photographies, Gallery Le Manoir, Martigny, Switzerland
• Made in Palestine, T.W. Wood Gallery and Arts Center, San Francisco
• Made in Palestine, SomArts Cultural Center, San Francisco
• Colors of Life and Liberty, International Exhibition of Contemporary Palestinian Art, UNESCO, Paris

2004

• Participation to drafts undergone for Workshops I and II at the Academy of International Arts in Ramallah, (following a selection of young artists undertaken by the Modern Art Organization and Oslo Arts Academy)
• Asia-Africa Jaala Biennale, Tokyo, Japan.

2003

• Made in Palestine, Station Museum of Contemporary Art, Houston,Texas

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

• 2018 Musée de l’institut du mond arabe Donation Claude & France Lemand, IMA, Paris
• 2016 Zeft, exhibition catalog, Contemporary Art Platform (CAP), Kuwait
• 2016 Unlike Other Springs, exhibition catalog, Birzeit University Museum, Birzeit, Palestine
• 2015 Low Quality Love, exhibition catalog, Berloni Gallery, London
• 2015 Walls and Margins, exhibition catalog, Maraya Art Centre – Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE
• 2014 Insoumission, exhibition catalog, Musée de la Palmeraie, Marrakech
• 2014 11th Edition of Biennale of Dak’Art 2014 (11e biennale de l’art africain Contemporain), Dakar, Senegal
• 2012 Between Exits: Paintings By Hani Zurob, Book edited by Black dog Poblisher’s, London
• Author: Kamal Boullata, Introduction by: Jean Fisher.
• 2012 Disposition, Book edited by Adania Shibli, The A.M. Qattan Foundation, the French Consulate General in Jerusalem, the Ministry of Culture and the Welfare Association.
• 2012 Comme Un Souffle De Liberté, exhibition catalog, Fête de L’Humanité, Paris
• 2012 Le Corps découvert, Book edited by Institut du Monde Arabe – IMA, Paris
• 2012 Diversity from the Arab World, exhibition catalog, Albareh Art Gallery, Bahrain
• 2011 Framed / Unframed, exhibition catalog, Birzeit University Museum, Palestine
• 2011 Art Dubai, 5th Contemporary Art Fair catalog, Dubai
• 2010 Palestine, La création dans tous ses états, exhibition catalog, the National Museum of Bahrain
• 2009 Palestinian Art (from 1850 to the present), a book of Kamal Boullata (Author), Coverpage by Hani Zurob
• 2009 Al-Quds: A Celebration of Jerusalem, catalog exhibition, Nabad Gallery, Amman
• 2008 11th Edition of Biennale of Cairo, exhibition catalog, Cairo, Egypt
• 2008 Paris, Damas: regards croisés, exhibition catalog, which was organized by Europia Productions, Paris
• 2007 Salon d’automne edition 2007, exhibition catalog, Paris
• 2006 July 2006, exhibition catalog, Gallery and Europia Productions, Paris
• 2006 Siege, exhibition catalog, Khalil Sakakini Center and A.M. Qattan Foundation, Ramallah, Palestine
• 2005 Visit Palestine: A Voyage Through Contemporary Art, exhibition catalog, Gallery 4 Walls, Amman
• 2004 Colors of Life and Liberty, International Exhibition of Contemporary Palestinian Art, exhibition catalog, UNESCO, Paris
• 2003 Made in Palestine, exhibition catalog, The Station Museum of Contemporary Art, Houston,Texas
• 2002 The Young Artist Award, exhibition catalog, A.M. Qattan Foundation, Ramallah, Palestine

AWARDS / RESIDENCES</h4?

• 2017 Artistic residence, Nov 2016 – May 2017, Atelier Al-Mansouria Foundation For Culture and Creativity, Saudi Arabia, Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris.
• 2013 Artistic residence, Le Cube – Independent Art Room, Rabat, Morocco
• 2011 Artistic residence, the Municipality of Bobigny, France
• 2010 Artistic residence, Is invited by the Municipality of Paris, The International City of Arts, Paris
• 2009 Prize and Grant Renoir 2009, Essoyes, France.
• 2009 Artistic residence, Maison de la Vigne, Salle Renoir, Essoyes
• 2008 Grand Prize of International Salon of Contemporary Art of Bourges, France
• 2006 Artistic residence, February – September, Welfare Association Atelier Palestine à la Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris.
• 2006 Subsidized to organize a private exhibition, Khalil Sakakini Centre, Ramallah, Palestine
• 2002 Young Artist Award 2002, selected as one of ten artist, A.M. Qattan Foundation, Palestine

2012 A monograph tracing the development of his work, “Between Exits: Paintings By Hani Zurob” by Kamal Boullata, with an introduction by Jean Fisher, was published by Black Dog Publishing in London- UK.

2022 Floating in tar: Intreview with Hani Zurob | An Interview with Naima Morelli, published in the Middle East Monitor.