DNA

A Palestinian visual artist, was born in Gaza City in 1956. She completed her schooling there before enrolling at Gaza Teachers' Institute, which later became Al-Aqsa University↗, to study fine arts—a field aligned with her passions and aspirations. It was there that she took her first steps on her artistic journey. Tahani married Adeeb Skeik, who supported her artistic pursuits with encouragement and care. In 1976, she moved with her husband to Kuwait, where she worked as a teacher for 16 years. During this time, she painted murals in schools and designed theatrical backdrops that often reflected Kuwaiti heritage and traditions.

She regularly attended art exhibitions featuring artists from various nationalities, seeking to enhance her artistic skills and engage with Kuwait's thriving art scene. During this period, she connected with prominent Palestinian artists such as Ismail Shammout and his wife, Tamam Al-Akhal, as well as Jamal Gharbiya and the renowned art critic and artist Abdulhadi Shala. Under the mentorship of Jamal Gharbiya, who dedicated significant effort to refining her artistic style, Tahani's skills flourished. For about five years, she participated in intensive training programs, enabling her to exhibit her works alongside esteemed Arab and Palestinian artists in Kuwait and beyond. In 1985, she became a member of the Kuwait branch of the General Union of Palestinian Artists.

Tahani participated in numerous group exhibitions at venues such as the National Museum of Kuwait, Dhahiya Art Hall, and Mishref International Fairgrounds. Her works were well-received and appreciated. She also showcased her art in exhibitions outside Kuwait, in both Arab and international settings. After the Gulf War in 1990-91 and the subsequent expulsion of Palestinians from Kuwait, Tahani returned to Palestine with her family. She worked as an art teacher in several schools before assuming a managerial role at the Ministry of Culture. During this period, she participated in various exhibitions in Gaza, the West Bank, and abroad and served as a member of several art jury committees. She was also a founding member of efforts to establish a national museum in Gaza alongside the late artist Kamal Al-Mughanni and Fayez Sersawi. Tahani held eight solo exhibitions, beginning with her 1993 show at Gallery 79 in Ramallah, supervised by the late artist Issam Badr. Her subsequent solo exhibitions were hosted at venues such as the YMCA in 1994, the Women’s Media and Information Center in 1996, Rashad Al-Shawa Cultural Center in 1998, Al-Mina Gallery in 2003, the YMCA again in 2017, and the Orthodox Cultural and Social Center in 2023. Her works are included in various art collections.

 However, Tahani suffered devastating losses during the war on Gaza, where her home and over 150 of her artworks were completely destroyed. Amid the tragedy, she endured the profound pain of losing her husband, the steadfast supporter of her artistic journey. He passed away during the war, succumbing to the horrors of the massacres and relentless bombardment. She was recently ( December 2024) ,subjected to Israeli bombardment, suffering further losses within her family and sustaining serious injuries herself