Said Elatab
Palestinian Artist
📍 Lives in United States
🏛 Born in Beirut, Lebanon

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Browse original paintings, prints, and available artwork by Abd Al Hameed Al Sous.

Said Elatab is a Palestinian-American painter based in New York. Drawing from his early life experiences and immigration to the United States in 1979, Elatab creates bold, expressionist works that explore memory, resilience, and the human condition. Heavily influenced by Vincent van Gogh, his art weaves Arabic calligraphy, vivid color palettes, and symbolic portraiture to bear witness to humanitarian struggles and give voice to hope.

Artist Biography

Said Elatab was born in 1959 in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon. Growing up amidst cultural richness and historical hardship, he found solace in artistic expression from a young age. In 1979, Elatab immigrated to the United States in pursuit of new opportunities and settled in New York, where he formally studied painting at art school. Over decades of dedicated practice, he developed a signature style characterized by expressive brushwork, bold black outlines, and the integration of Arabic script into figurative forms. Deeply inspired by Vincent van Gogh's raw honesty and intensity, Elatab views painting not merely as a career, but as a vital life purpose dedicated to preserving memory and fostering compassion across borders.

Artist Story

Every canvas created by Said Elatab carries the weight of a long journey—from the narrow streets of Sabra and Shatila to the vibrant art scene of New York. Immigrating to the U.S. in 1979 with a passion for painting, Elatab transformed his personal history of displacement into a universal message of human endurance. His artistic path is fueled by an unwavering empathy for those affected by conflict, particularly civilians in Gaza. Rather than turning away from pain, Elatab channeling his emotions through vivid primary colors and calligraphic repetitions of city names like Palestine (فلسطين) and Gaza (غزة). For Elatab, art serves as a bridge: a space where tragedy meets resilience, and where deep cultural roots inspire collective healing.

Artist Statement

"My art is born from memory, struggle, and an unyielding faith in humanity. Influenced by the intense emotion and dedication of Vincent van Gogh, I paint to express truth and capture the spirit of resilience. Through bold colors, symbolic portraiture, and Arabic calligraphy, my work documents human suffering—particularly that of Palestinian civilians—while insistently pointing toward hope and dignity. Art is my platform to cultivate compassion, preserve history, and remind us of our shared human bond." — Said Elatab

Artist at a Glance

🎨 Category

Palestinian Artist

📍 Current Residence

United States

🏛 Born

Beirut, Lebanon

🖌 Medium

Oil on Canvas

🎭 Style

Expressionist & Cubist Hybrid

🌿 Inspiration

Palestinian Heritage • Post-Impressionist Emotion

🖼 Subjects

Collective Portraits • Symbolic Landscapes

💙 Themes

Memory & Displacement • Resilience & Identity

🛍 Available Works

Original Paintings

Cities of Remembrance

Acrylic on Canvas - 20 × 24 in (50.80 × 60.96 cm)

A vibrant portrait featuring a dual-toned yellow and pink face framed by dark hair and large blue earrings. Behind the figure, archways are painted with the names of historic Palestinian cities—including Jerusalem (القدس), Nazareth (الناصرة), Jaffa (يافا), Bethlehem (بيت لحم), and Gaza (غزة)—creating a visual registry of homeland and identity.