Hamsa (Space) Painting

The hamsa is a symbol in Jewish and Muslim lore. Sometimes called the Hand of Fatima, the hamsa is meant to ward off the “evil eye,” which brings bad luck, and/or incur blessings. My fascination with the hamsa symbol began as a child. I was raised with Reform Judaism, and my mother, an oil painter, painted the symbol repeatedly. I also encountered the symbol in high school, when I began studying Arabic, and again at Columbia University, where I received my degree in Middle Eastern Studies. While pursuing my degree, I spent the better part of a year living in Jordan and Lebanon and traveling in the Middle East. It was there I learned that the symbol pervades the cultures, religions, and ethnicities of this complex region. In an area fraught with conflict, this symbol acts as a shared safeguard against harm. I began drawing and painting the hamsa after studying artistic anatomy at The Art Students League of New York. At first, I was looking for a way to challenge my knowledge of human anatomy. However, as anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiment rose in the United States and elsewhere, I began to look to the hamsa as a means of creating solidarity and as a bedrock in uncertain times. Painting the symbol repeatedly has allowed me to try different approaches to color, mark-making, and materials. In “Hamsa (Space),” I used acrylic, spray paint, and oils to create a feeling of fluidity and airiness — a wide net to protect viewers from harm.

Painting:Oil on Canvas

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:12 W x 16 H x 1 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.