Palestine History Tapestry makes US debut in honour of Palestinian women

The Palestine Museum US is set to present the exclusive US premiere of the Palestine History Tapestry, a powerful collection of embroidered artwork celebrating the resilience and traditional embroidery of Palestinian women. Held in honour of International Women’s Day, the exhibition will open on Sunday with a special ceremony from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Museum’s premises in Woodbridge, Connecticut and via Zoom.

The Palestine History Tapestry was founded in Oxford in 2012 and officially launched in partnership with the Middle East Monitor in London in 2018. It consists of over 100 intricately hand-embroidered panels, vividly depicting the rich history and cultural heritage of Palestine. The tapestry has since made its way to the United States, finding a permanent home at the Palestine Museum US.Designed by Palestinian artists, this extraordinary collection has been embroidered over 12 years by Palestinian women living in refugee camps across Lebanon, Jordan, the occupied West Bank, Gaza and the Naqab.

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Palestinian Henna Party embroidered panel of dancing Palestinian women in traditional thobes. Courtesy: Palestine History Tapestry

“Despite the immense challenges Palestinian women face — including occupation, apartheid, and genocide — they have continued to play a pivotal role in the Palestinian struggle for over a century,” Faisal Saleh, Executive Director of the Palestine Museum US, said. “This exhibition is a tribute to their courage and an opportunity to honor their contributions to the community.”

“Each stitch in this tapestry is a thread that binds Palestinian women together, no matter where they are in the world,” Jehan Alfarra, Co-Chair of the Palestine History Tapestry, told MEMO.

“We may be scattered across borders, but the art of tatreez – traditional Palestinian embroidery – connects us to our ancestors, our heritage, and to one another,” she added. “To showcase this work on International Women’s Day is to celebrate not just the largest embroidered collection of illustrative work telling the history of Palestine, but the unbreakable bonds that keep our culture alive despite displacement and fragmentation.”

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The exhibition will feature a selection of panels from the tapestry, allowing visitors to witness firsthand the intricate craftsmanship and deep historical narratives woven into each piece. Through this showcase, the Museum aims to highlight the pivotal role Palestinian women have played in preserving their nation’s identity and heritage.

The exhibition will run at the Palestine Museum US until 31 March 2025.