In Memory of Sliman Mansour
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Sliman Mansour, artist, advocate and dear friend of Embrace the Middle East.
For more than five decades, his work helped people around the world connect with the lives, culture and experiences of Palestinian communities. Through his art, he built understanding, preserved cultural heritage and affirmed the dignity and humanity of people living through conflict and occupation.
Sliman's paintings were never just about landscapes or landmarks. They were about people. Through powerful images of family, community, belonging and hope, he invited audiences to look beyond headlines and stereotypes and encounter the human stories at the heart of Palestine.
Born in Birzeit in 1947, Sliman became one of Palestine's most influential artists and a passionate champion of Palestinian culture and identity. Through both his artwork and his leadership within the artistic community, he encouraged new generations of artists and helped ensure that Palestinian stories, traditions and experiences would continue to be seen, shared and celebrated.
His deep connection to the land and people of Palestine shaped everything he created. As Sliman once reflected:
““I was moulded by the Palestinian landscape. The land plays an important role in my art and in my nature as a human being.””
At Embrace the Middle East, we remember Sliman with gratitude. He was a valued friend and supporter who generously shared his artwork with us, helping supporters connect more deeply with the people, places and cultures of the Middle East. Through the artwork he gifted to Embrace, he helped raise awareness and support for our partners serving communities across the region.
The stories Sliman shared through his art continue to inspire people to see the Middle East through the eyes of its people: with honesty, dignity, creativity and hope. His legacy lives on in the artists he inspired, the culture he helped preserve and the countless individuals whose understanding of Palestine was shaped by his work.