About

Background

Artists Supporting Palestine is an artist-led initiative launched early in 2024 in response to Israel's genocide of the Palestinian people. It provides a way for artists and collectors to show their solidarity with Palestine and offer practical support through the selling of artworks. Like the wider population, many artists have been both profoundly shocked by the horrific crimes Israel has perpetrated and deeply moved by the dreadful suffering endured by Palestinians. Many of us have felt helpless in the face of our governments' (UK, US and EU) unwavering support for Israel and the flagrant abandonement of international law and basic morality. With the backing of our governments and the assistance of legacy media, Israel has perpetrated what the ICJ has determined to be a plausible case of genocide. Artists Supporting Palestine offers a modest practical response to Israel's crimes by raising funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians, a highly respected and experienced charity that works on the ground in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon to directly help the Palestinian people. Like the palestinian solidarity marchaes that have been taking place across the globe, our initiativeprovides a community that helps us deal with the sense of helplessness and isolation that many of us experience as we witness the silence and inaction of friends, family members and colleagues.

Who we are

Artists Supporting Palestine initially came about through conversations between a small group of UK-based artists, connected via social media and our local art communities. Frustrated by the art world's silence, we decided to do something ourselves, so we created a JustGiving page, a website and an Instagram account. We hoped to raise £1,000. It became apparent very quickly that hundreds of artists and other creatives were desperate for a place where they could connect with members of their community who refused to be silent in the face of Israel's brutal military campaign against the people of Gaza. 

A small thing that we can do as artists is to use some of our work to raise money to help fund an organisation providing medical support to the victims of this horror and at the same time to grow a community of artists where solidarity with Palestine is assumed.

Freedom for Palestine! الحرية لفلسطين! .

All those who have contributed to the creation of Artists Supporting Palestine are listed below:

• EC (painter, London)

• Joss Cole (painter and gallerist, Leeds)

• Paul Grist (painter, Leeds)

• Vicky M Hawkins (painter, collagist and textile artist, London)

• Laura Jones (illustrator, Lancaster)

• Gavin McIntosh (painter, Leeds)

• Gary Spratt (painter, Dorset)

• Michael Szpakowski (artist and writer, Harlow)

• Eva Willer-Andersen (painter, London)

• All the artists and buyers who have donated or bought works and everyone who has shared the initiative.