Karim Abu Shakra
b. 1982

b. 1982

Thistle,
Oil on cardboard, 100x70 cm.
Signed.

Karim Abu Shakra is the youngest member of the Abu Shakra family, a renowned family of artists from Umm al-Fahm, Israel. The Abu Shakas have been a remarkable presence in the Israeli art scene for over 50 years, with their extensive creative endeavors and social-educational activities. In 2023, a unique exhibition showcasing the works of the entire family was held for the first time at the Ein Harod Museum of Art, receiving rave reviews and drawing significant attention to the family's artistic talents.

Karim studied at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, but his primary inspiration for his art comes from the works of his uncle, Asim Abu Shakra, who passed away in 1990 at the age of 28. Asim Abu Shakra was known for his cactus paintings, which became a recurring and obsessive motif in his work. The cactus motif also features prominently in Karim's paintings: the cactus is depicted in various geometric forms reminiscent of Cubist deconstruction, sometimes in an expressive style incorporating dots and sharp outlines, and at times even becoming abstract. As an Arab-Israeli artist, the cactus symbolizes for him the connection to the land and to suffering, but he also sees it as a symbol of renewal, blossoming, and flourishing. In 2021, a work from this series was acquired by the Tel Aviv Museum of Art collection as part of the Rappaport Prize for Israeli Artists.