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1972–1982
Press Illustrator
Chief graphic designer in the daily newspaper Al-Ittihad and Journal of Cultural Affairs “Al Jadeed.”
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Biography
Abed Abdi
Artist · Educator · Curator
A life in art, education and cultural engagement,
shaped across Haifa, Dresden and the wider cultural
landscape of the region and beyond.
01 · Early Years
Beginnings in Haifa
1942
Born in Haifa, Mandate Palestine.
1948–1951
In April 1948, six-year-old Abed Abdi was uprooted from Haifa with his mother and siblings, enduring three years of displacement in Lebanese and Syrian refugee camps while his father remained behind. In 1951, after a painful separation, the family was finally reunited in their home city.
1958–1962
Studied at the Professional School in Haifa and developed his artistic practice through painting and sculpture workshops with Avraham Yashkil , Zvi Meirowitz and sculptor Mordechai Kafri .
1962
Held his first solo exhibition at the Ahva
(Solidarity) Culture Club in Tel Aviv.
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1963
Became a member of the Painters and Sculptors Association
(Haifa and the North branch).
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Abed Abdi, Self-Portrait
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Archival photographs · Leipzig and Dresden · 1964–1971
02 · German Period · 1964–1971
Formation
Social Realism · Humanist Art · Dresden Academy
The years in Dresden marked a decisive
period in Abed Abdi’s artistic development. His studies
in the German art academy brought him into close
contact with the traditions of Social Realism and
humanist art, while his specialization in mural and
graphical art shaped the direction of his practice.
1964–1965
Language studies and Preparatory Year for academic studies,
Herder Institute, Leipzig, Germany.
Herder Institute
1965–1970
Fine Arts Academy in Dresden, Germany. Dresden Academy of Fine Arts . Specialized in mural and graphical art. Teachers included Lea Grundig, Gerhard Kettner and Gerhard Bondzin.
1966
Group exhibition with four other students at Brühlsche Terrasse Gallery, Dresden Academy of Fine Arts, Germany. The exhibition was opened by Lea Grundig.
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1969
Worked on the mural “The Path of the Red Flag” under the leadership of Prof. Gerhard Bondzin, for the façade of the Dresden Palace of Culture.
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1970–1971
Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden, Germany. Specialized in mural art for another year. Diploma M.A. with honors in 1971.
1971
03 · Graphic Work & Cultural Production
Graphic Designer
Following his return from Dresden in 1971, Abed Abdi developed an extensive practice in illustration, graphic design, political cartooning, publishing and theatre design. His work moved between the press, books, public institutions and the stage, creating a visual language closely connected to the cultural life of his time.
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1972–Today
Book Covers
Book cover and illustrations for the books of many authors.
including Emil Habibi, Anton Shams, Mohammed Ali Taha, Salman Nator, Samih El Kassem, Felicia Langer, Moshe Brazilian, Joseph Algazi (Galilee) and many others.
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1974–1982
Political Cartoon
Created political cartoons and social commentary for Al Ittihad newspaper.
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1979–2009
Logo Design
Logo and visual identity design for educational, municipal and cultural institutions.
1979
High School Logo design, Orthodox Arab High School, Haifa.
1984
Local Council logo design, Reina Municipality.
1997
Local Council logo design, Yafia Municipality.
1988
Logo design, the city of Um El Fahem Municipality.
2009
Logo design, Interkulti / International Art Colony, Hungary.
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1977–2000
Theatre Design
Stage and set design for theatres and cultural institutions, including Jewish and Palestinian theatres.
1972
Decor designer, “The Confused Sultan,” Al Nahed Theater – Beit Hagefen Arab-Jewish Center, Haifa. Directed by David Sharir.
1972
Decor Designer, “Cockroaches,” Theater Arts Band, Jerusalem. Directed by Samih Badran.
1975
Decor Designer, “waiting for the left,” The popular theater in Shfaram. Director: Elias Razak.
1977
Decor Designer, Al Nahed Theater, directed by Adeeb Jahshan.
1978
Decor Designer, Beit Hagefen Theater, directed by Salim Daw.
1980
Decor Designer, Children’s Theater, directed by Orna Porat.
1981
Decor designer, “The Emperor’s Clothes,” Beit Hagefen Theater, directed by Salim Daw and Antoine Saleh.
1983
Decor Designer, “Soldiers and Thieves,” Community Theater, Sakhnin. Directed by Adeeb Jahshan.
1985
Decor Designer, Nazareth Municipal Theater, directed by Riyad Masarwa.
1987
Decor Designer, “The Ideal Mother,” Pigeon and Bird Stories Theater. Director: Victor Kamar.
2000
Decor Designer, Sakhnin Theater. Director: Adel Abu Ra’i.
04 · Memorial monuments and environmental sculptures in public places 1969–2026
Public Artist
Abed Abdi is most notably known as the first Palestinian artist living in Israel to erect monumental works in public spaces commemorating Palestinian modern history. His memorial monuments and environmental sculptures remain standing in Palestinian, Israeli and foreign localities, becoming part of the public landscape and collective memory.
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Monuments
Memorial works created in public spaces to commemorate Palestinian history, events and collective memory.
- 1977 Design and execution of the Land Day Monument , Sakhnin. Together with Israeli Artist and sculptor Gershon Knispel.
- 1985 Design and execution of the monument “70 years for the status of a city”, the Town Hall square, Shfaram
- 1992 Design and execution of the tomb of late author Deeb Abdi, Haifa.
- 1994 Design and execution of the tomb of late Evangelical community leader Tawfiq Assad, Haifa.
- 1997 Design and execution of the tomb late writer Emil Habibi, Haifa.
- 2000 Design and execution of the memorial monument, Kafer Kana.
- 2001 Design and execution of the memorial monument at Kfar Manda.
- 2021 Design and execution of Memorial Monument at the Grave of Dr. Ramzi As’ad, Haifa.
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Environmental Works
Installations and murals conceived for public environments, such as educational institutions, municipalities and more.
- 1969 Participation in relief works on the facade of the Palace of Culture building in the city of Dresden, Germany, under Supervision by Prof. Gerhard Bondzin, Kulturpalast Dresden (30 m. x 10.5 m.)
- 1971 Design and execution of “Spring water” , mural at the Academy of Art in the city of Dresden, Germany.
- 1982 Design and execution of a mosaic wall on the facade of the “House of Grace” church , Haifa.
- 1982 Design and execution of mosaic wall, Mr. Elias College, I’bllin. (2.5 m x 30m).
- 1984 Designing of the Gospel Church Square, Nazareth.
- 1988 Municipal Logo Aluminum Relief at I’billin Municipality Building
- 1988 Relief Design on the facade of the Pais Center for Culture , J’deida village.
- 1991 Design and execution of the Mural At Dome of Al – Jazzar Mosque in Acre
- 1993 Mural At Yafa an Nasera Local Council Building (2 m x 15 m)
- 1993 Design and execution of a Municipal Logo Aluminum Relief at Reine Municipality Building
- 1996 Design and execution of Situation-Installation- Haifa
- 1997 Design and execution of the Al Burak installation, Haifa
- 1998 Design and execution of the Municipal Logo Aluminum Relief at Iksal Municipality Building (10 m x 2 m)
- 1998 Design and execution of an environmental sculpture Homage to the city of Amman at the National Gallery, Amman, Jordan.
- 1998 Design and execution of the Souls Hovering in the Place mural in Haifa
- 1999 Design and execution of the Wadi of Copper and Light mural in Haifa
- 2000 Design and Execution of the Aluminum Cross at St. John’s Church in Haifa
- 2000 Design and execution of a “Let the Sun rise” front sculpture (Ceramics), in collaboration with the artist Haya Touma, Elementary High School, I’bllin.
- 2001 Design and execution of the Aluminum Relief at I’billin Municipality Library Building
- 2001 Design and execution of the Aluminum Relief at I’billin Junior School Gate (no.2)
- 2001 Design and execution of the “Knowledge” Aluminum Relief @ I’billin Junior High School (no.3)
- 2003 Design and execution of environmental sculpture Bridges of Hope Fountain Monument at German School
- 2005 Design and execution of environmental sculpture, the “Holiday Holiday” festival in the Wadi El Nisnas neighborhood, Haifa. (Rubabah and Qahwah Saadah (Homage to David Roberts)
- 2006 Design and execution of a relief project on the front of the school, “The Knight” @ Junior High School I’billin (no.1)
- 2006 Design and execution of fountain and sculpture “The Tree of Knowledge” (Aluminum and Ceramic Mosaic), High School, Zarazir village.
- 2006 Design and Execution of the mural “The Science in Pen” (Marble and Bronze), The Academic Arab College For education, Haifa.
- 2007 Design and execution of environmental sculpture Aromas (Homage to Saliba Khamis) in Haifa
- 2007 Design and Execution of part of the The Pillar of Friendship @ Ironbridge (UK)
- 2010 Design and Execution of ceramic mural with Arab, Jewish, and Baháʼí Children in Haifa
- 2015 Design and execution of “Between Two Worlds” ceramics mural at the front of the International Art Colony in Csokako, Hungary.
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Unrealized Projects
Monumental and public art projects conceived by Abed Abdi that were never realized.
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05 · Art and Painting Instruction, Teaching the History of the Arts
Art Educator
Abed Abdi with students in his private studio, Haifa.
Abed Abdi with his art students, 1978.
Abed Abdi played a pioneering role in the development of art education in Palestinian communities in Israel. At a time when organized art courses were largely unavailable and art was not yet widely regarded as a profession in the community, he established and taught courses in numerous Palestinian localities. Over the course of 49 years, from 1975 to 2023, he taught children, young people and adults, while also lecturing on art and the history of the arts. His teaching helped raise generations of artists, some of whom went on to establish important careers of their own.
1975–2000
Art and Painting instructor, Kfar Yasif, the local
council’s community center.
1977–1996
Art and Painting instructor, Shfaram, the local
council’s community center.
1977–1979
Art and Painting instructor, Al-Makar, the local
council’s community center.
1979–1981
Art and Painting instructor, Acre, Community Center.
1981–1985
Lecturer in Art and Painting, Terra-Santa
Comprehensive School, Jaffa-Tel Aviv.
1982–1990
Art and Painting instructor, Dalit El Carmel
Council’s Local Community Center.
1983–1990
Art and Painting instructor, Ohel Sarah College.
1983–2004
Art and Painting instructor in the workshops of the
Jewish-Arab Center for Culture Beit Hagefen, Haifa.
1985–2009
Lecturer in Art and History of the Arts, Arab
College of Education in Israel, Haifa
(until retirement).
1993–2018
Art and Painting instructor as part of a “National
Cultural Basket” by the Ministry of Education in
dozens of schools from the North to the Negev.
1985–2023
Art and Painting instructor at the Weekly Painting
and Sculpture Workshops for young gifted children
from all denominations in the city, in the
private studio in Haifa.
06 · A Lifelong Commitment to the Advancement of the Arts and Culture
Beyond the Studio
Art Curating, Institutional Engagement and Cultural Writing
Abed Abdi with fellow artists at the
“7 Masters of Palestinian Art” Residency, 2016.
Abed Abdi with colleagues, early 1960's.
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Art Curating
From the 1970s onward, Abdi curated exhibitions of Palestinian, Arab, Jewish and international artists, including projects devoted to artistic exchange, young artists, children and shared cultural spaces.
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- 1977 Curator of the exhibition “Graphic Artists from Germany”, Friendship Gallery, Nazareth.
- 1995 Curator of the exhibition “East Colors”, Artists’ House, Haifa.
- 1997 Curator of the exhibition “Dialogue – Arab and Jewish Artists”, Artists’ House, Haifa.
- 2000 Curator of Young Artists Exhibition, Community Center, Tamra.
- 2007 Curator of Jewish and Arab Children’s Exhibition “Inspired by the Neighborhood”, Arabelle Gallery, Haifa.
- 2008 Curator of “Window, Dream”, in partnership with curator Orna Ben Shitrit, Beit Hagefen Jewish-Arab Center, Haifa.
- 2009 Curator of “Connections”, in partnership with curator Orna Ben Shitrit, Beit Hagefen Jewish-Arab Center, Haifa.
- 2009 Curator of “Caution! Art!”, a multidisciplinary art event across Haifa.
- 2010 Curator of “Neighboring”, in partnership with curator Inbar Dror Lex, Beit Hagefen Jewish-Arab Center, Haifa.
- 2010 Curator of Jewish and Arab Children’s Exhibition, Arbel Gallery, Haifa.
- 2013 Curator of “Visual Memory”, solo exhibition by Fouad Agbaria, Umm El-Fahem Gallery.
- 2016 Curator of “Bustan Khayat”, Beit Hagefen Jewish-Arab Center, Haifa, with Yaela Hazut and Eyal Friedlander.
- 2018 Advisory Curator, International Art Colony, Csókakő, Hungary — “Masters of Palestinian Art”.
- 2019 Advisory Curator, International Art Colony, Csókakő, Hungary — “Masters of Palestinian Art”.
- 2024 Advisory Curator, International Art Colony, Csókakő, Hungary — “Identities”, Episodes 2, 3 and 4.
- 2025 Advisory Curator, International Art Colony, Csókakő, Hungary — “Identities”, Episode 5.
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Institutional Engagement
Abdi's cultural engagement spans more than six decades. He served the Painters and Sculptors Association and founded and chaired organizations advancing visual art, culture and theatre.
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- Since 1963 Member of the Painters and Sculptors Association.
- 1978–1982 Member of the Board, Painters and Sculptors Association.
- 1982–1985 Member of the Audit Committee, Painters and Sculptors Association.
- 1985–1990 Member of the Board, Painters and Sculptors Association.
- 1995–1999 Founder of the Khalil Al-Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah.
- 1996–1999 Founder and first Chair of Ibda’a Association for the Advancement of Art in the Arab Sector.
- 2014–2019 Founder and Chairman of the Arabelle Association for the Advancement of Visual Art in Haifa.
- 2015–2019 Chairman of the El Midan Theater Council, Haifa.
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Critical Writing on Art
Abdi published opinion articles on art and its role in society. He also served as an art critic, contributing to the critical discourse surrounding contemporary Palestinian and Israeli art and culture.
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Speaker in Conferences
Abdi has participated in conferences and cultural forums in Israel, Europe and the Middle East, speaking on art, cultural history, identity, intercultural dialogue and the experience of displacement and memory.
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- 1994 Conference on “Understanding Between Religions”, organized by the Municipality of Paris, France.
- 2009 Conference on “Reflections on East Germany”, Department of German Culture, University of Haifa.
- 2013 Conference on “Palestinian Art”, Beit Hagefen Jewish-Arab Center, Haifa.
- 2014 Haifa Story Festival, Family-Poetic Meeting on Refugee Experiences, Musawa Center, Haifa.
- 2016 Cultural Art Conference, Jordanian Writers Association, Amman, Jordan.
- 2017 Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Conference, Tel Aviv, on the German Jewish artist Lea Grundig.
- 2019 Conference “Tribute to Artist Abed Abdi”, Orthodox Culture Club, Haifa.
07 · Recognition Across Borders
Honors
Awards, Distinctions and Works in Collections Worldwide
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Prizes, Honours & Awards
Abed Abdi receiving the Palestine Prize from the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian minister of culture.
Abed Abdi has been awarded the highest honorary prizes both by Israel and Palestine, and he has been an honorary citizen of the city of Haifa since 2010.
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- 1961 Sculpture Histadrut Prize.
- 1972 Award for the Encouragement of Young Artists, International Youth Festival, Berlin, Germany.
- 1973 Herman Struck Award, Artists Association, Haifa Municipality.
- 1999 German State Prize for Art Studies.
- 1999 Herman Struck Award, Artists Association, Haifa Municipality.
- 2008 Minister of Science, Culture and Sports Award in the field of plastic art.
- 2010 Honorary Citizen, Haifa City Municipality.
- 2019 Palestine Prize, awarded by the Palestinian President and the Ministry of Culture.
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Works in Collections Worldwide
Abed Abdi's painting Refugees Waiting For Their Return in the collection of Haifa Museum of Art.
Abdi’s works are held in museums, public institutions and private collections across Israel, Palestine, Europe, the Middle East and the United States.
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- The British Museum in London, United Kingdom.
- Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
- Dalloul Art Foundation / D.A.F. Museum, Beirut, Lebanon, and Dr. Ramzy Dallal’s Collection, London, England.
- Dar Al Nimer Collection, Beirut, Lebanon.
- Dresden Academy of Art, Germany.
- Haifa Museum of Art, Israel.
- Hagar Gallery, Tel Aviv.
- Israel Museum Archive.
- Kiyan Collection, Beirut, Lebanon.
- Luciano Benton Collection, Rome, Italy.
- Luna Art Fund.
- Ministry of Culture Archive, Sofia, Bulgaria.
- Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art, Győr, Hungary.
- Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art, Hajduböszörmény, Hungary.
- National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman, Jordan.
- Oldenburg Municipality, Germany.
- Palestine Museum USA.
- Archive of the Palestinian Ministry of Culture, Palestine.
- Princess Wijdan Ali Collection, Amman, Jordan.
- Ann and Ari Rosenblatt Collection, USA.
- The Art Gallery, Umm al-Fahm.
- Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Israel.
- The Bank of Palestine Collection, Bethlehem, Palestine.
- Budapest Bishop’s Office – Esztergom, Hungary.
- Haifa Museums / Haifa Museum of Art, Israel.
- Amos Shoken Collection – Haaretz Newspaper.
- Archive of the Office of the President of the State, Budapest, Hungary.
- Palestine Museum USA.
The Biography Continues
The Story Continues
Explore the writings, exhibitions, publications and archival material that document Abed Abdi’s life and artistic journey.
From the Archive
The Wandering Museum in the Works of Abed Abdi
“In 1962 my father held his first exhibition in Tel Aviv initiated by left-wing activists such as Gila Balas and her husband Shimon along with the poet Issam Al-Abassi and others. This event provided great cultural feedback as he was also elected to membership of the Artists Committee. He was twenty years old at the time and was the youngest and the first Arab artist to become a member of the committee.”Continue Reading Article
Explore the Archive
The Complete Artistic Record
Explore the works themselves.
From the earliest works of 1955 to the present, discover the paintings, drawings, prints and other works that form Abed Abdi’s artistic legacy.
