Wild Shrubs on Rocky Hillside, 1984

Mohammad Issa, a Palestinian artist born in Haifa in 1942, was a self-taught painter and sculptor who also engaged in furniture and interior design. He was a founding member of the Jordanian Plastic Artists Association and the Young Artists Group, actively participating in their exhibitions and activities from 1979 to 1989. In 1981, Issa received the Golden Sail Award at the Arab Biennale in Kuwait for his sculpture, marking a significant milestone in his artistic career.

Issa's artistic style was characterized by symbolic surrealism, blending transparency and delicacy in his paintings with solid forms in his sculptures. He worked with various materials, including wood, marble, stone, clay, glass, plaster, wires, and strings, often incorporating musical elements to evoke imagination and romance. His works frequently addressed the plight of the Palestinian people and the concerns of the Arab and Islamic nations, using dramatic colors and intertwined forms to express human anxiety and aspirations.

Issa passed away on September 4, 2015, after a prolonged illness. His resilience during his five-year battle with illness reflected the strength and depth evident in his artistic creations. He is remembered as a dedicated artist who used his brush as a form of resistance for his occupied homeland.