We are deeply honored to extend an invitation to you for Brushes of Hope: Gaza Emergency Relief Art Auction, scheduled for Sunday, March 10th. This vital emergency fundraiser is organized to support six remarkable artists from Gaza, in addition to funding Rebuilding Alliance’s hot meals program that currently nourishes 50,000 individuals in Gaza every day.

These six extraordinary Gazan artists have graciously contributed their artwork to champion the humanitarian need, illustrating that art is a powerful form of support. By supporting their artwork, you are directly uplifting the lives of artists in Palestine, with the auction featuring over 60 original pieces ranging in medium from acrylic and watercolor to colored pencil and collage.

Leila Kassab, a featured artist, eloquently states, "Art is a tool to deliver my message from Gaza to the world." This event symbolizes a bridge from Gaza to the global stage, showcasing the resilience and creativity thriving amidst adversity.

The auction will take place from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM PST at the Skyway Center. For those who cannot join in person, we offer a virtual option to view and participate in the bidding process.

The event will feature musical performances from Georges Lammam, Palestinian violinist and Richard Michos, guitar.

Bidding will commence on Wednesday, March 6th. We earnestly hope you can be part of this meaningful weekend event. In these times of sorrow and conflict, it becomes crucial to unite in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. Together, we stand in unwavering strength and commitment.

The silent auction will feature 68 original artworks by 7 Gaza artists, struggling to share their stories with the outside world.

Amongst this collection you will find original oil paintings, acrylic paintings, and watercolors. All pieces were carried out of Gaza by Rebuilding Alliance in 2019.

Learn more about each of the artists below.

Maysa Yousef

Maysa Yousef was born in Gaza City in September of 1984. Growing up, Yousef always dreamed of becoming a professional artist and of her work moving from gallery to gallery. She holds a B.A in Fine Arts, awarded from the University of Al-Aqsa. The medium Yousef primarily works with is hand drawings, as well as paintings of both modern and contemporary art.

In 2011, Yousef went on to win first place in the Women’s Association Palestinian Heritage Gallery. She also won first place in Gaza’s contemporary festival for visual arts. Yet, Yousef is best known for her participation in murals, including the murals done for: the effects of the Palestinian and Israeli war, the fight against corruption, International Women’s Day, Prisoners Day, and Al Nakba Day.

“I love my community and have a lot of hope that I can use my artistic talent to create a brighter tomorrow - a better future.”

— Maysa Yousef

https://www.facebook.com/artistmaysayousef

Yazid Attalah

Yazid Altalla was born July 23, 1992 in Syria, and currently lives in Gaza’s Maghazi refugee camp. In 2014, he graduated with a B.A from Al-Aqsa University, where he chose to study interior design due it being the only art-oriented major and developed a passion for it.

In addition to interior design, Altalla has a passion for painting Arabic calligraphy. It is his way of changing the stereotypes of Muslim people and Arabic as a language. He uses beautiful colors and designs, intertwined with Arabic letters, to paint his own picture - and tell his own story. Altalla is inspired by the positive perspective he has learned to adopt. He sees past the chaos that takes place in Gaza to find the beautiful aspects of the city.

“I appreciate the places around me; there is much more beauty to be shown. It has inspired me with a lot of brilliant ideas.”

— Yazid Altalla

https://www.facebook.com/yazid.art.39

Basel Maqosui

Basel El Maqosui was born in Gaza City in 1971. Maqosui’s medium is plastic art and freelance photography. He liked drawing ever since childhood and was very good at it though was not able to pursue it in higher education because of the lack of art colleges and universities in Gaza

Despite the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, Maqosui’s work is known and recognized internationally. In 2003, he was awarded the Charles Asprey Award for Palestinian artists and was shortlisted for the A.M Qattan Foundation Artist of the Year Award. In 2008, he took home the bronze medal for the best photo of the Arab Union at a competition in Germany; and, in 2009, he won the Oscar of Binali Nile culture TV in Cairo.

“Traveling and researching is very important for my practice and my career. To have the chance to engage with different cultures and traditions is an enriching experience and helps me develop my artistic practices.”

— Basel El Maqosui

http://www.facebook.com/basel.elmaqosui1

Shareef Sarhan

Shareef Sarhan was born in 1976 in Gaza. Sarhan holds a B.A in Fine Arts. Sarhan started his career as an artist in 1995, at Learn Arts, a fine arts program at the YMCA in Gaza City. He then moved into a new and different world as he looked for beauty, art, and a means to express his love of nature and humanity. He was introduced to modern art and its relevance to daily life through his encounter with the Syrian artist Marwan Qasab Bashi at the Summer Arts Academy in Amman.

Shareef Sarhan is a founder of the Windows from Gaza for Contemporary Art group, and an active in the Association of Palestinian Artists.

https://www.facebook.com/Shareef.Artist/

Laila Kassab

Laila Kassab was born on December 8, 1985 in a refugee camp in Rafah, Gaza. Kassab’s family was removed from their home in the village of Krati to the refugee camp, where Kassab was educated in UNRWA schools. Her childhood was spent surrounded by siege, war, poverty, and oppression.

Inspired by her father, at the age of 8, Kassab developed what she describes as a natural inclination towards expressing herself artistically. Kassab describes her paintings as entry points into her reality. Even though she uses bright colors such as red, yellow, violet, and blue, she urges observers of her work to pay close attention to details: she sometimes uses facial expressions to convey her storylines, conveying a day of her life through her artistic characters.

“In my paintings, I express the lack freedom I face, as well as prisoners and women’s issues. Art is a tool to deliver my message from Gaza to the world.”

— Laila Kassab

http://www.facebook.com/lailakassabart/

Diana Alhosary

Diana Alhosary was born in Gaza in 1988 and received her bachelor degree in Fine Arts from Al-Aqsa University in Gaza in 2010. She worked as a teacher at Al-Aqsa University for a year, and worked as a high school art teacher. Now, she works at the Tamer Foundation as an art trainer within the collective educating program. Diana received many certificates of appreciation for her artistic participation in various shows and forums. She adopted the colored drawing and collages techniques as a tool to express her thoughts and feelings towards things around her. Furthermore, her participation in international art exhibitions started from 2009 to 2016 between Palestine and the Arab world. Her first participation was in "Korban" exhibition in response to the first war on Gaza in 2008, and the most recent exhibition is "Land Lovers" in Gaza during January 2016. In addition, she participated in the Qalandia International Festival for 2016 and "Our Diary here in Gaza" exhibition which was held in Amman, Jordan.

https://www.facebook.com/dianaalhosory

Freedom, Maysa Yousef