Ahmed Alaqra Emerges as Artist to Watch in 2026

Palestinian artist, architect, and curator Ahmed Alaqra has rapidly gained international recognition for his thoughtful interrogations of power, memory, and landscape through photography, installation, and curatorial projects. Named one of Frieze magazine’s “Ten Artists to Watch in 2026,” Alaqra’s multifaceted practice continues to resonate amid ongoing global conversations about displacement, fragmentation, and resistance.

Alaqra, who studied architecture at Birzeit University and the University of Edinburgh, is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the Université de Paris while basing himself between Ramallah and Paris. His work explores the aesthetics of power embedded in everyday structures—social, political, and visual—often using archival and contemporary imagery to examine how histories are constructed and contested.

A key ongoing series, “How to Fabricate a Memory,” involves cutting, splicing, and reassembling photographs of Palestinian landscapes. Drawing from both historical archives and new captures, the pieces chart the physical and symbolic fragmentation of the land over time, serving as a poignant reflection on violation, erasure, and reclamation. This body of work has been praised for its meticulous approach to unmaking dominant narratives through material intervention.

In 2025, Alaqra presented the installation “I remember. a light” as part of the “Art Here 2025” exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi. The piece interrogated visual and material languages shaping public realms, earning acclaim for its subtle yet powerful commentary on memory and presence.

His curatorial efforts have amplified Palestinian voices internationally. Since the escalation of conflict in Gaza, Alaqra has organized significant exhibitions, including the touring show “I Will Write Our Will Above the Clouds,” which featured works by 18 artists from Gaza and traveled to London, Berlin, and Paris. He also co-founded El Gorfeh, Palestine’s first community darkroom, fostering grassroots photographic practice.

Looking ahead in 2026, Alaqra is set to contribute to the group exhibition “Dreaming Suburbs” at Konsthall C in Sweden, opening in February, alongside his ongoing curatorial programming at Dar Jacir. These projects build on his reputation for blending artistic production with advocacy and community-building.

Alaqra’s inclusion on high-profile watch lists underscores a growing interest in artists addressing urgent geopolitical realities through innovative visual languages. As borders and narratives remain contested, his work offers a vital lens on persistence and imagination in the face of adversity.