BIO
Hannah Atallah (born. Washington, DC) is a muralist, mixed-media artist & art teacher.
With a focus on large-scale public art projects, she prioritizes the incorporation of community and relevant cultural histories in her practice. As a Palestinian-Lebanese-Irish-American artist, she often draws from her own cultural inspirations.
Atallah has received recognition through awards, residencies, and commissions, including the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Art Bank, and Halcyon Art Lab. She has apprenticed under MISS CHELOVE (Washington, DC) and Producciones y Milagros (Mexico City). .
site PHOTOGRAPHs
by jerome thomas , conrado muluc , & Max Berger
exhibitions
love letters to baltimore & the dmv, asia north 2024 - group SHOW: Motor House baltimore baltimore, md (2024)
her voice, her vision - group SHOW: chesapeake arts center baltimore, md (2024)
WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST - group SHOW: outique art space amman, jo (2023)
cans to canvas - group SHOW: fada 317 & the art hub amman, jo (2022)
el mal querer - october 29 - november 19 - SOLO SHOW: homme GALLERY WASHINGTON, DC (2022)
flood pulse - APRIL 30-MAY 31 - SOLO SHOW: LOST ORIGINS GALLERY WASHINGTON, DC (2022)
144 - GROUP SHOW: JAB ARTS AT GRAND DUCHESS WASHINGTON, DC (2022)
DC ART NOW 2021, group show: DC commission for THE ARTS & HUMANITIES Washington, DC (2021)
By the People x Monochrome Art Fair, Group Show, Virtual Washington, DC (2020)
Current Movements, Group Show, Eaton DC Washington, DC (2019)
Tiny Show #2, HEN HOUSE Group Show, Good Fast Cheap DC Washington, DC (2019)
Relative Positions, Group Show, O St Studios Washington, DC (2019)
Tiny Show, HEN HOUSE Group Show, Brookland Arts Walk Washington, DC (2019)
Women Who Run with the Wolves, Group Show, Torpedo Factory Art Center Alexandria, VA (2019)
Omi Collective Lotus Bloom, group installation, Catharsis on the Mall Washington, DC (2019)
Visual Candy: Good & Plenty, group installation, Art All Night DC Washington, DC (2019)
showcase, Joint Show: Hannah Atallah & Virginia Moore, Broad Street Gallery Hamilton, NY (2017)
select honors & grants
garfield elementary, DCDGS GRANT AWARD RECIPIENT Washington, DC (2023 - 2024)
francis stevens school without walls, DCDGS GRANT AWARD RECIPIENT Washington, DC (2023 - 2024)
Greenmount west mural commission Baltimore, md (2022)
Abell community association mural grant Baltimore, md (2022)
smothers elementary DCDGS GRANT finalist Washington, DC (2022)
baltimore marathon carefirst bluecross blueshield x baltimore running festival Baltimore, md (2021)
MURALS DC, MURALS DC GRANT AWARD RECIPIENT Washington, DC (2021)
Eaton elementary, DCDGS GRANT AWARD RECIPIENT Washington, DC (2021)
Lets paint the streets, CAH GRANT AWARD RECIPIENT Washington, DC (2021)
DC ART bank, DC commission for THE ARTS & HUMANITIES Washington, DC (2021)
DISTRICT BRIDGES MURAL ARTIST SELECTION Washington, DC (2020)
THE SOURCE, ARTIST RESIDENCY & MURAL INSTALLATIONS UTICA, NY (2020)
Collective Remembering mural project, Haven Sexual Violence Survivor Support Center Hamilton, NY (2019)
MURAL CLIENTS
garfield ELEMENTARY (DC)
francis stevens school without walls (DC)
jordan eco park (JO)
Residential Commission (MD)
ABELL community association (md)
CARE FIRST BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD (MD)
BALTIMORE RUNNING FESTIVAL (MD)
MURALS DC (DC)
EATON ELEMENTARY (DC)
The Tailor & the cook (NY)
utica coffee roasters (Ny)
DISTRICT BRIDGES (DC)
Residential Commission (DC)
Sherwin Williams (DC)
haven survivor support center (NY)
Residential Commission (FL)
SELECT PUBlic/private collections
DC COMMISSION OF ARTS & HUMANITIES collection (DC)
NICOLE DOWD, HALCYON ARTS LAB (MD)
private collectors worldwide
teaching
kings academy (JO): ART, DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY FACULTY
the lord bertrand russell school
instituto bilingue victoria gama
hamilton center for the arts
colgate university
FEATURES
By the People x Monochrome Artist talk
artist ASSISTS
RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ, “la naturaleza” MURAL Project Assistant hyattsville, MD (2021)
MISS CHELOVE, “power to change” Mural Project Assistant. mt. ranier public library, washington, dc (2021)
MISS CHELOVE, “Sky Writers // The Seasons Collection” (4 soffit murals) Mural Project Assistant. signal house, washington, dc (2020 - 2021)
MISS CHELOVE, “watering hole” Mural Project lead Assistant. houston elementary, washington, dc (2020)
priscilla yu, 2019: pow!wow!, dc
producciones y milagros, 2016 : MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS, cdmx (2015)
ARTIST STATEMENT
am a visual artist operating at the nexus of art, community engagement, sacred knowledge, science, and design. With extensive experience as a muralist and collaborator, I specialize in crafting culturally resonant and captivating murals tailored to their environmental settings. Prioritizing collaboration with local photographers, creatives, and community members, I infuse my designs with the stories, figures, and symbols relevant to each locale. Drawing inspiration from meticulous research of the mural site, cultural textiles, and artistic patterns, I create dynamic portraiture against complex backgrounds that invite viewers to explore local history and symbols.
In my studio practice, I delve into the profound impacts and intricacies of migration, displacement, and diasporic communities, with a particular focus on the Arab world. Inspired by Islamic art, sacred geometry, and tatreez, my work integrates layered portraiture with intricate backgrounds, rich in symbolism and subtlety. Through the detailed application of Arabic calligraphy, painted mosaic patterns, and sacred geometrical motifs, I pay homage to the artistic traditions of the Arab world.
My current series of carefully layered portrait paintings explores the nuanced experiences of the Palestinian diaspora and my diverse communities. By depicting the intimate and social dimensions of contemporary life beyond the prevailing narratives of war and tragedy, I aim to defy passive observation and historical stereotypes, celebrating the humanity of everyday individuals.