Malak Mattar, age 21 ,is an artist of startling originality from the Gaza Strip who paints powerfully expressionist faces, figures, and semi abstract designs. She first started painting at age 13.During the 51 day Israeli military assault on Gaza in 2014. Forced to stay inside for her own safety,she felt a compelling need to release all of her negative energy —fear, anxiety and sheer terror. She started painting with art supplies from her school, basic watercolor on paper. This opened up a world of self expression for her. Mattar produced over 300 paintings. Unable to leave Gaza due to restrictions of the Israeli occupation, Mattar showed her paintings to the world via social media, on Instagram and Facebook. On her fourteenth birthday, she began offering her originals for sale to buyers around the world. Within two years, she became financially independent. Mattar’s artwork quickly began to garner interest from galleries beyond Palestine; her artwork has been featured in many individual and group exhibitions in Jerusalem, France, Spain, Turkey,Costa Rica, India, England, 11 states in the USA and Art under siege exhibit held in Rayburn House Office building, US House of Representatives, DC. 2015: Solo exhibition in Press house in Gaza/Palestine. -Group exhibition in Al-Qattan institution for Art and Culture. -Solo exhibition in the BDS centre in Gaza. -Solo exhibition in the European representative organization for culture. -Group exhibition in Adam Hotel organized by institution of Palestinian women. -Solo exhibition at the university of Costa Rica in Costa Rica. 2016: group exhibition in Ambassador hotel in Jerusalem sponsored by the American consulate. -Solo exhibition in Germany, France, Lebanon and USA.