Abdul Raouf Zidan Al-Ajouri
°1977, Gaza, Palestine.
Lives and works in Gaza, Palestine.
Raouf Al-Ajouri is a visual artist and sculptor born in Jabalia Camp, Gaza, Palestine (1977). He began his artistic career in 1993, and since then, art has served as a tool for existence and resistance, as well as a visual voice through which he expresses human issues, especially those of Palestinian children, amidst an exceptional reality of oppression and conflict.
His work relies on an expressionist style, with a tendency toward visual symbolism. He addresses themes related to identity, memory, childhood, and loss, inspired by the details of daily life in Gaza and the impact of war on the soul and body.
Art, for him, is not just a practice, but a profoundly human act of resistance. With his colleagues, I founded the Eltiqa Group and Eltiqa Gallery in Gaza, believing that artists have a collective role that goes beyond producing artwork, but extends to empowering the artistic field in a besieged environment.
Selected exhibitions:
Solo exhibitions:
2020, Orange Faces – Art Shilter, Eltiqa Gallery (PS)
2011, Children – Eltiqa Gallery (PS)
2003, Silent Dialog – Sakakini Culture Center, Qattan Art Program (PS)
Group exhibitions:
2025, Eltiqa, How to Work Together – Art Jameel Foundation, curated by Question of Funding (AE)
2025, World of South – Verduyn Gallery (BE)
2022, DOCUMENTA 15 – Invitation by Lumbung Gallery, curated by Ruangrupa (DE)
2021, FORWARD – Goethe Institute (PS)
2019, Contemplative Contrast – curated by Baha Abu Daya, organized by Shababik & Qattan Foundation (PS)
2018, Impact of Transformation – 30th Anniversary of Darat Al-Funun foundation, Eltiqa Gallery (PS)
2017, Night of Ideas – Space of IFG, in cooperation with Eltiqa and Shabaek Galleries (PS)
2017, Art for Hope – Art Dubai Season (AE)
2015, 87 – Qalandia International, Eltiqa Gallery (PS)
2014, Windows Into Gaza – Royal Hibernian Academy Gallery, curated by Felim Egan (IE)
2014, Traces – Memorial collective exhibition curated by Yasmin Sharabi (PS)
2013, Jordanian, Palestinian, French – Artists Union Space (JO)
2013, A Meeting in Eltiqa House – Workshop & Collective Exhibition, Eltiqa Artists House (PS)
2013, Francophone Day Festival – French Institute (PS)
2011, Autre Monde – Mobile exhibition, Toulouse municipality showroom, Moissac (FR)
2011, Repercussions of Blue – Al Hoash Gallery (PS)
2010, Visual Stories – Eltiqa Artists House, in cooperation with Qattan, PCHR (PS)
2010, GAZART – Exhibition & Workshop, Eltiqa Artists House (PS)
2010, Creative Palestinian Art – Art Sawa (AE)
2010, Politography – Eltiqa & Shababeik, directed with Goethe Institute (PS)
2010, Colors of Hope – UNDP annual auction exhibition, Ambassador Hotel (PS)
2009, Art Rest – Organized by Eltiqa, PRCS (PS)
2009, Traces du Guerre – CCF (PS)
2009, Eltiqa – Galerie Brigitte Griffault, Le Scribe (FR)
2009, Colors from Palestine – Bank of Palestine Hall, in cooperation with French Consulate (PS)
2008, Morceaux choisis Gaza – Mobile exhibition, Albi, Toulouse (FR)
2008, La Nuit Blanche – CCF (PS)
2008, Occupied Space – The Mosaic Rooms, A.M. Qattan Foundation (GB)
2008, Eltiqa Collective – Galerie “Le Salon reçoit” (FR)
2008, Upsidum – University of Rangueuil (FR)
2008, Eltiqa Collective – Galerie l’Acadie (FR)
2008, Panorama Palestinian Painters – Maison l’Oradou, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
2007, Gaza Seasons – Space of the Arab Library (CH)
2007, La Nuit Blanche – CCF (PS)
2007, Eltiqa Collective – Mobile exhibition, Albi, Toulouse (FR)
2007, Gaza Shooed Pieces – Albi, Toulouse, Rodez (FR)
2000–2006, From Sands to Gray – Workshop and Exhibition with Swiss Artist Elaine Bytrison (PS)
2000–2006, Spring – Alhallaj Gallery (PS)
2000–2006, 10 Artists from Palestine – Najac, Toulouse, Albi, Paris (FR)
2000–2006, 6 Artists from Gaza – Nablus, Nazareth & Jerusalem (PS)
2000–2006, Winter 2002 – Centre Culturel Français (PS)
2000–2006, We Will Be Exhibition – PRCS (PS)
2000–2006, In the Shadow of Intifada – Arts & Crafts Village (PS)
1993–1997, Shared in different exhibitions (PS)