Coffman Union will showcase “Unveiling Realism,” an exhibit by Palestinian artist Raghda Skeik, who hopes to showcase her heritage, coming-of-age story and perspective of the world from Aug. 28 to Dec. 7.

Skeik, who was born in Gaza, said she believes it is important for students to see this kind of work to raise awareness about Palestine and the challenges many Muslim hijabi artists face. 

The exhibit, located in the second-floor gallery of Coffman, features seven paintings focused on Renaissance techniques and Palestinian culture. 

Out of her seven paintings on display, Skeik said her personal favorite is “Forcibly Resilient,” due to the personal meaning it holds for her. 

The piece stems from Skeik’s experiences in Palestine. 

Skeik visited Gaza in 2022 on a medical mission, which is where she met Sarah, a young Gazan girl who had been displaced from her family for two months at the time due to the war.  

“I cried every day, painting her, to be honest,” Skeik said. “Just remembering her voice and her words to me, how she misses her family and how she hates when the sun comes down, just because this is where the horror started and the bombardment.” 

Skeik said she told Sarah she was going to paint her picture and give it back to her the very next year. However, the very next year, the Oct. 7 Hamas attack against Israel happened.

“Unfortunately, the next year, I could not go back,” Skeik said. “And until now, I have no contact with Sarah. I have no idea if she’s still alive or not.” 

At least 65,344 people, including at least 19,424 children, have died since October 2023, according to Al Jazeera. 

Skeik said it was too overwhelming for her to finish the portrait after the attacks, but she found the motivation again after wearing a keffiyeh while looking at herself in the mirror, thinking of Sarah. The keffiyeh is a traditional headdress and scarf worn by men and women across the Middle East. 

The keffiyeh was not originally in the picture of Sarah, but Skeik decided to add it to the portrait because she saw herself in Sarah. Skeik grew up in Gaza for 18 years and lived through the second intifada, also referred to as the Al-Aqsa uprising. 

“I literally lived through the chaos my whole life,” Skeik said. “So, painting Sarah, I was just reliving my whole childhood and the terror I encountered in Gaza.” 

Skeik’s work did not get here by accident. Her selection was a months-long process, decided by the Student Unions and Activities Arts and Cultural Committee..

The committee reviews applicants for its annual Call for Artists every spring. If an artist’s work is selected, it is placed within one of the University’s many galleries.

Skeik said she applied to the call in spring 2025 because she had always wanted to showcase her art at the University. 

SUA Building Art and Galleries Manager Tricia Schweitzer was part of the team that selected Skeik’s art. 

“Everyone thought it was beautiful,” Schweitzer said. “They really enjoyed her ability, the quality of the work and her ability as a portrait artist.”

Schweitzer said the decision was ultimately up to the student committee and that they wanted her work to be shown.