A Conversation With Asma Ghanem: Palestinian Tables as Resistance

By Marky Salvati | Images Courtesy of the Artist

Watermelon Table acrylic ink & pastel 55x50 — *Watermelon Table* acrylic ink & pastel *55x50*

Asma Ghanem is a Palestinian artist, experimental musician and director currently living in California. She received a BA from the International Academy of Art in Palestine and an MA from Toulouse School of Fine Arts in France. Ghanem’s work has been featured on the Washington Post, she has guest lectured and performed at the California Institute of Arts (CalArts) Herb Alpert School of Music and has exhibited visual and audio art internationally.

Ghanem misses home—the tables that brought everyone together. Ghanem says that painting, to her, is like water and food.

“Palestinian food as an identity is a powerful political message about our roots. Even food is under threat of occupation,” Ghanem says as she addresses her many paintings featuring Palestinian meals. Ghanem explains that when there is Palestinian food on the table, something good is happening—it is a good day.

Birds, flowers, & Palestinian breakfast acrylic & pastel on canvas 31x28.5 — *Birds, flowers, & Palestinian breakfast* acrylic & pastel on canvas 31x28.5

Having grown up on occupied land, Ghanem remembers the fear that plagued her youth. As a refugee child, Ghanem found sanctuary in the art supplies her mother brought her. Her mother encouraged her, telling young Ghanem that she was meant to be an artist.

Having lived in Palestine as an artist, Ghanem explains that the Israeli occupation of Palestine is more than the theft of Palestinian land—it is an occupation of the mind. Art is inherently political for Palestinian artists.

Ghanem explained that her perspective as a Palestinian artist is rooted in reality—the Israeli art she saw had the privilege of being imagined and playful. Palestinian art reflects their reality under occupation.

Outside of Palestine, Ghanem grew weary of interacting with institutions who had hidden motives. There are agendas behind faux Palestinian solidarity. She learned to represent her Palestinian and Arab communities with caution.

As an artist in Palestine, Ghanem was looked at through a microscope. All eyes, from all angles, are on those with a voice, watching and critiquing.

Asma Ghanem | From The River To the Bay Image Courtesy of SOMArts — Asma Ghanem | *From The River To the Bay* Image Courtesy of SOMArts

Ghanem is currently on view at SOMArts in San Francisco as a part of From The River To the Bay, a group exhibition of 11 Palestinian and solidarity artists.

The curator, Chris Gazaleh, shared, “We’re going to make art no matter what. We’re going to keep living no matter what… Let the people in Gaza be the testament to that, because they’ve been living through a 480-day genocide and are still singing and dancing and trying to keep themselves alive,” reported Nastia Voynovskaya for KQED from the opening reception of the exhibition on Feb 5, 2025.

One of Ghanem’s paintings features her daughter on a tricycle. She explains that it represents hope for the future of her child.

Her work in this exhibition demonstrates radical acts of play. She affixes metallic sequins to a painting, creates sculptures out of childrens toys and represents culture through ornate, but loosely rendered, ornamentation and patterning.

In this act of radical play, Ghanem reclaims joy from oppressors. Ghanem still, however, acknowledges brutality through the dynamic relationship between colorful plastics and dominating cement materials.

Asma Ghanem’s work is hope and resistance. She combats violence with scenes of peace—rebuilding a world on community and togetherness.

Ghanem’s work highlights one of the most powerful tools against oppression—joy. There is courage in joy, courage to cook Palestinian food and to eat it around a full, loud table. Joy and food fuel the resistance.

Ghanem provided a list of Palestinian artists to support: