Hussein Shamia

Hussein Shamia is a Palestinian visual artist from the Gaza Strip, currently living and working in Brussels. His work ranges from realistic to abstract styles and focuses on expressing the emotions of people facing challenging situations and daily struggles.

His drawings and paintings often explore themes like pain, displacement, and identity, while also reflecting hope for a better future. For example, one of his paintings (Untitled, Two People Sitting on a Sofa, 2024) shows two people together on a couch even though war has separated them in real life. His series ملامح الغياب (Features of Absence, 2024) looks at the emotional experiences of individuals – close to the artist – living under occupation.

Recently, Hussein has started experimenting with a new technique that combines acrylic paint and clay on paper. This approach is part of a series of portraits that aim to tell more stories and in very different ways.

While his art highlights the hardships people face, it also conveys a sense of hope and resilience for the future. Through his works, Hussein Shamia aims at opening new horizons for thought and reflection on the human experience, turning each painting into a story that can speak to everyone.