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Palestinian artists win prestigious Israeli art prize for first time

In winning the prestigious 2023 Rappaport award, Hannan Abu-Hussein and Maria Saleh Mahameed mark a breakthrough for Israeli-Arab artists.

"The Last Pill," by Maria Saleh Mahameed, Maya Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel.
"The Last Pill," by Maria Saleh Mahameed, Maya Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel. — Lena Gomon / Mahameed & Fireflies Project

The Rappaport Prize committee announced last Wednesday that Arab Israeli artists Hannan Abu-Hussein and Maria Saleh Mahameed were the laureates of the 2023 award, the first time Palestinians have won the prestigious honor.

The annual prizes are awarded by the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Foundation to one established Israeli artist and one promising Israeli artist, in conjunction with the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Prizes named after the late Jewish philanthropists are also awarded for biomedical research and groundbreaking social change endeavors by women.  

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