The Palestinian-American artist Samia Halaby has been honored with the 2025 Munch Award for Artistic Freedom, a prize that recognizes her lifelong dedication to both artistic innovation and fearless self-expression. Born in Jerusalem in 1936 and displaced during the Nakba, Halaby has spent more than six decades redefining abstraction through vivid explorations of color, light, and movement, while also embedding her work with political consciousness. Her journey has not been without resistance—recently, U.S. institutions such as Indiana University and Michigan State University canceled or censored her exhibitions, citing “security concerns,” a decision many see as silencing her steadfast advocacy for Palestinian freedom.
At 88, Halaby’s recognition by the Munch Museum resonates far beyond personal acclaim. It is a reminder that art is not only about form but also about courage—the insistence to create and to speak, even when voices are suppressed. By awarding Halaby, Norway acknowledges both the richness of her visual language and the urgency of defending artistic freedom in a world where politics often intrudes upon culture. Her career stands as a testament to resilience: that abstraction can be a form of resistance, and that beauty and justice are not separate pursuits, but intertwined.
