ABDELRAHMAN AL MUZAYEN, Palestine (1943)

Abdelrahman Al Muzayen, born in 1943 in Qubayba, a village in the Ramle subdistrict of Palestine, lived a life dedicated to preserving Palestinian culture and history through his art and activism. After the 1948 Nakba forced his family to relocate to Khan Younis Refugee camp in Gaza, Al Muzayen pursued his education and artistic endeavors, eventually co-founding various Palestinian and Arab artists’ unions. His work, deeply influenced by his early realization of the cultural threats posed by the Zionist project, focused on portraying Palestinians as resilient and steadfast in the face of adversity. From his early murals condemning the massacre of Deir Yassine to his later depictions of Palestinian heritage and folklore, Al Muzayen’s art served as both a form of resistance and a celebration of Palestinian identity. Throughout his career, he remained dedicated to his homeland, even serving in the Palestinian Civil Police Force, and continued to advocate for peace and freedom until his retirement in 2006.

Abdelrahman Al Muzayen’s artistic journey is marked by numerous solo and group exhibitions, prestigious awards, and significant contributions to Palestinian culture and heritage.

Selected Solo Exhibitions:

2011: Solo Exhibition, Muscat, Oman

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2018: Labour of Love, Palestinian Museum, Birzeit, Occupied Palestine

2017: Jerusalem Lives, Inaugural Exhibition, Palestinian Museum, Birzeit, Occupied Palestine

2003: Made in Palestine, Station Museum, Houston, USA

Awards:

1992: Awarded the Military duty badge of honor, first degree, by President Yasser Arafat for his courageous participation with the Al-Quds patrol in rescuing the president from the Libyan desert.

1985: Diploma of honor from Germany for his contributions to the Palestinian Heritage Encyclopedia regarding the Palestinian traditional dress.

1983: Diploma of honor for his impactful posters, awarded by the international press organization in Paris.

Publications:

1979-2010: Authored 12 research papers on history, heritage, mythology, and Palestinian plastic art, along with 14 books covering topics such as history, heritage, Palestinian, and African plastic art.

1968-2010: His works were widely disseminated through hundreds of posters, postcards, and calendars.

Public & Private Collections:

His works are held in esteemed collections such as the Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation (DAF) in Beirut, Lebanon, and the collection of Souha Xochitl Shayota in New York, USA.

Accomplishments:

2006: Retired from the Palestinian Police with the rank of Major General.

1996-2005: Served as a political representative of the Palestinian Police as Colonel.

1996: Founded and served as the editor-in-chief of a Magazine related to the Palestinian Police. He also held positions such as Secretary General of the National Union of Palestinian Plastic Artists, Director of the Palestinian Historians and Archeologists Society, and memberships in various Palestinian councils and organizations.

1986-1994: Headed the Intellectual Mobilization Department of Media and Political Orientation in the PLO.

1984-1994: Headed the PLO art and cultural program in Africa.

1984: Co-founded the National Union of Palestinian Plastic Artists in Tunisia.

1980: Founded and led the ‘Artists of the Earth Group,’ organizing numerous international exhibitions.

1979-1987: Served as the Deputy to the Secretary General of the National Union of Arab Plastic Artists and the Deputy to the Director of the National Union of Palestinian Plastic Artists.

1971: Co-founded the National Union of Arab Plastic Artists.

1970: Co-founded the National Union of the Palestinian Plastic Artists.

المزين، عبد الرحمن. حوار باللون الأسود جداريات فلسطينية. عمان: دار فضاءات للنشر والتوزيع، 2012.