Renowned Palestinian painter Sliman Mansour passes away at 79

Sliman Mansour, a foundational name in contemporary Palestinian visual art, died at the age of 79 after a long illness, according to his family. Originating from Birzeit near Ramallah, he emerged in the 1970s alongside writers and poets rebuilding Palestinian identity through land-based symbols. His education in Beirut and Washington preceded a prolific exhibition career that reached museums and private collections worldwide.

Drawing on ancient Canaanite, Pharaonic and Islamic motifs, he depicted farmers, stone houses, traditional dress and hopeful children. During the first Intifada he co-founded the New Vision group, turning to natural materials after boycotting Israeli supplies, linking post-Nakba art to younger creators. Critics view his canvases as a visual record of the Palestinian cause.