Colorful and chaotic, "Birds of Paradise" (2011) by Laila Shawa employs Pop Art, urban art and graffiti to evoke a feelings of hope and resistance of censorship by the population of the Gaza and is part of her iconic "Trapped" series. The title is ironic and refers to both the circling military drones in electric colors that hover over a tranquil, traditional landscape filled with birds, trees, and flora and fauna. ]This work is from an edition of 6, measures 35.45 x 19.70 inches (90 x 50 cm) and is in excellent condition.

Born in Gaza in 1940, Laila Shawa creates works that express her concern with the tumultuous political realities of where she lives, extracting from her own photographs to chronicle her experiences and events of the past and present. Laila Shawa received her formal education from the Italian Accademia di Belle Arti, and graduated from Accademia San Giacomo in Rome. She has exhibited in countries like Italy, Germany, Austria, and the U.K., North Africa, Iraq, Russia, China, Japan, Malaysia and USA, and throughout the Middle East. Her works are held in top public and private collections including: National Museum for Women in the Arts, Washington D.C; The National Galleries of Jordan, The National Galleries of Malaysia; The Ashmolean Museum, U.K.;, The British Museum,U.K. and the National Museum for Women in the Arts, Washington D.C. Her work is currently on a touring solo exhibition in Brazil, in the Centro Cultural Banco do Brazil’s exhibition Isla, the first major exhibition of Islamic Art in Brazil. The artist currently lives and works in London.