Lee Welch | Painting Spotlight

Location: The Gallery at The Complex

Runs: 24 May - 14 June

Hours: 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 12-5pm Sat. Closed June Bank Holiday.

Tickets: Free entry, no booking required

In response to the cancellation of Palestinian artist Samia Halaby's retrospective at Indiana University, I painted this portrait of Halaby as a way to hold space for her work and signal the importance of artistic expression and freedom of speech.

Born in Jerusalem in 1936, this portrait of Samia Halaby @samiahalaby serves to honour her significant contribution to the world of art, education and her unwavering commitment to discrimination and the Palestinian cause. Not only did I want to mark the cancellation of her retrospective in Halaby’s old alma mater but my portrait also comes from a place of questioning and yearning and a motivation to focus on the importance of humanising. What I mean by humanise is to think about what is human and what is life and what might align with that in the context of the conflict in Gaza and Israel.

Samia Halaby is a beacon of resilience. In a time marked by controversy and uncertainty, my portrait emerges as a signal of solidarity and creativity. Her art and life work are a testament to the transformative power of art to transcend barriers and ignite meaningful conversations. I hope my painting of Samia Halaby can also hold space for meaningful conversations and for viewers to reflect on the complexities of censorship and the value of cultural diversity in our world.—Lee Welch

IMAGE :

Lee Welch

It’s an interesting question 2024

acrylic on canvas

50.8 x 40.6 cm / 20 x 16 in 

Photo by Lara Atallah

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Proudly supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Dublin City Council.

Drinks sponsored by Whiplash