Asim Abu Shakra
Asim Abu Shakra (also transliterated Asim Abu Shaqra, Asem Abu Shaqra, 'Asim Abu Shaqra, Assem Abu Shakra) (1961–1990) was a Palestinian artist. Among his works are paintings of potted cacti inspired by his state of exile as a Palestinian living in Israel.
Also recorded as Abu-Shakra, Asim · Abu-Shakra, A'sem · Abū Šagrā, ʿĀṣim
Asim Abu Shakra
- Born
- 1961 · Umm al-Fahm.
- Died
- 1990 · Israel.
- Nationality
- Israel
- Occupation
- painter
- Fields
- painting
- Education
- Kalisher Art School
- Languages
- Arabic
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Asim Abu Shakra (also transliterated Asim Abu Shaqra, Asem Abu Shaqra, 'Asim Abu Shaqra, Assem Abu Shakra) (1961–1990) was a Palestinian artist. Among his works are paintings of potted cacti inspired by his state of exile as a Palestinian living in Israel.
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Note VALÉORINE
Asim Abu Shakra (1961–1990) was a painter, of Israeli nationality. The painter was born in Umm al-Fahm and died in Israel.
Asim Abu Shakra was educated at Kalisher Art School. Activity centred on painting. Languages used include Arabic.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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wikidata · Q6751851 · wikipedia · Asim Abu Shakra
In this article
Biography
Biography
Asim Abu Shakra was born in 1961 in the village of Umm el-Fahm in the Jenin district. He was the seventh of ten children in a Muslim family. From 1982 to 1986, Abu Shakra studied at the Kalisher Art School in Tel Aviv. Afterwards, he continued to live and work in the city, and although he was able to access an international art scene, Abu Shakra felt a perpetual sense of alienation as a Palestinian living in exile that was echoed in his paintings. His friend, Ron Gang, reflected in a 2003 interview, “Asim identified completely with the Palestinian cause." Abu Shakra died in 1990 due to cancer. Since his death, Israeli institutions like the Tel Aviv Museum of Art have portrayed his cactus series as Israeli symbols despite his refusal of such interpretations during his lifetime. To Palestinians, the cactus series symbolizes the plight of Palestinians in exile as well as Abu Shakra's personal experiences. The depiction of cacti as potted plants further reflects resistance to uprooting.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1961
Asim Abu Shakra was born in 1961 at Umm al-Fahm.
1990
Asim Abu Shakra died in 1990 at Israel.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Umm al-Fahm.
Birth place
Israel.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q6751851: Asim Abu Shakra
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Asim Abu Shakra”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Literature
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Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Abufarha, Nasser. Land of Symbols: Cactus, Poppies, Orange and Olive Trees in Palestine. Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power. 15. 3. 343–368. June 3, 2008. 10.1080/10702890802073274.
- 2.Asim Abu Shaqra (Palestinian, 1961-1990). Christie's.
- 3.Roz, Wafa. ASIM ABOU SHAKRA, Palestine (1961 - 1990). Dalloul Art Foundation.
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authority record
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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