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Abdul Rahman Katanani is a Palestinian artist born and living in Sabra refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon. Katanani is a third generation Palestinian refugee; his grandparents left Yazour—a small town now called Azor—in Jaffa in 1948.
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Early life
Abdul Katanani was born in 1983, nine months after the Sabra & Shatila massacre. His first works of art were political cartoons, much inspired by Palestinian cartoonist and political critic, Naji al-Ali. In 2008 he received a Special Mention and in 2009 he received the Young Artist Prize during Salon d'Automne held by Sursock Museum in Beirut.
Education
Katanani attended the Lebanese University in Beirut where he received a Diploma and Masters of Fine Arts. He has been a resident artist at Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, France. In 2016, he was a resident artist at Cenre d'Art de Nanterre in Paris, France.
Work
Katanani makes his art out of various materials such as scrap metal and barbed wire that he sources from within the camp. His artwork has sold in auctions by Christie's.
In 2016, Artnet News called Katanani one of "the strongest mid-career artists in the Arab world".
Collection
Katanani's piece, "With Her Nephew, Ahmad" is a part of the permanent collection of Barjeel Art Foundation.
Exhibitions
Katanani has held solo exhibitions and participated in group exhibitions in multiple countries. Some of them include:
Solo exhibitions
2016 "Children, Olive Trees & Barbed Wire", Al Markhiya Gallery; Doha, Qatar
2015 "Softness of a Circle, Knife Edge of a Straight Line", Agial Art Gallery; Beirut, Lebanon
2014 "Kids, Barbed Wire, and a Dream", Tanit Gallery; Munich, Germany
2012 "No Address", French Institute, Beirut, Lebanon.
2011 "Zinc, Barbed Wire, and Freedom", Agial Art Gallery; Beirut, Lebanon
Group exhibitions and participation
2016 "Jardin d'Orient", Arab World Institute; Paris, France
2014 My Beautiful Laundrette", Cite Interntational des Arts; Paris, France
2012 "Together We Connect", Anima Gallery; Doha, Gallery
2011 "Rebirth"; Beirut Exhibition Center; Beirut, Lebanon
2011 "Isharat", Al Markhiya Gallery; Doha, Qatar
2009 Abu Dhabi Art
2009 Penang State Museum and Art Gallery; Penang, Malaysia