Noor Nematt

Noor Nematt is a painter and illustrator born and raised in Amman, Jordan, with roots in Palestine. She is known for her colourful and thought provoking oil paintings and digital illustrations under a common theme of love and resistance. As the artist uses heartfelt imagery that creates an atmosphere of appreciation for Palestinian culture. Symbols such as the keffiyeh, the Palestinian flag and Arabic text are prevalent in her work. We will explore Nematt’s latest series, and the function of her art in the act of resistance, spreading awareness on the attempts to erase Palestinian culture in the region.

Noor believes in the Palestinian people’s steadfastness; they have faced bombardment and apartheid since 1948 and are currently fighting an atrocity unlike any other. It is massively imperative for artists to use their art to amplify awareness on political issues, as art has done historically.

The artist’s upbringing in Amman was very influential to her artistic vision. Surrounded by art from all over the Middle East, especially with her father being an artist himself, her experience has been enriched with art and culture. Growing up, she drew influence from artists in the region such as Ammar Khammash, Hani Alkam, Serwan Baran and Laila Shawa. Her earlier work includes portraiture and was heavily themed around femininity. Over the years, Nematt’s artwork shifted towards focusing on the experience of being a Arab woman, specifically in relation to Western culture.