Khouloud Matar-Kasaa is a Palestinian photographer and visual artist based in Jerusalem. She was born in the city of Nablus, Palestine, and has been living in Jerusalem since she was a child.
Matar-Kasaa's work focuses on the Palestinian experience, exploring themes of identity, displacement, and memory. Her photographs often feature everyday scenes from her homeland, capturing the beauty of her culture and its people. She has exhibited her work in numerous galleries around the world, including the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
Matar-Kasaa is also an active member of the Palestinian photography community. She is a founding member of the Palestine Photography Collective (PPC), which works to promote Palestinian photography and visual arts through exhibitions, workshops, and other initiatives. She also serves as a mentor for young photographers in Palestine through PPC's mentorship program.
In addition to her photography work, Matar-Kasaa is also an accomplished filmmaker. Her short films have been screened at festivals around the world and have won several awards. Her most recent film "The Return" was awarded Best Short Film at the 2020 Arab Film Festival in Los Angeles.
Matar-Kasaa's work has been featured in publications such as The New York Times Magazine, The Guardian, National Geographic Magazine, and TIME Magazine. In 2020 she was named one of TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2020 for her work as a photographer and filmmaker advocating for Palestinian rights.
Matar-Kasaa continues to use her art to tell stories about Palestine that are often overlooked or ignored by mainstream media outlets. Through her work she hopes to bring attention to the struggles faced by Palestinians living under occupation and inspire others to take action for justice and peace in Palestine.