Photo : Joss Dray
Palestine photographed by Joss Dray
Discover a powerful visual journey that captures the enduring spirit and daily life within Palestinian refugee camps. Through the lens of Joss Dray, this exhibition transforms raw moments into an intimate tribute, inviting you to witness stories of resilience and humanity.
Institut du Monde Arabe (Paris 5th)
About
The Institut du Monde Arabe hosts a powerful exhibition featuring Joss Dray's photography of Palestine. Running from September 30 to November 1, 2026, this documentary work captures the daily lives and resilience of Palestinians across occupied territories and refugee camps in Lebanon. Held in honor of Leïla Shahid, this exhibition is free and designed to be fully accessible, including facilities for visitors with motor, sensory, or cognitive disabilities, alongside sign language support. Visitors are welcome from Tuesday to Sunday, 13:00 to 19:00, to engage with this poignant visual chronicle of a living history.
Exhibition organized as part of the 2026 European Heritage Days and in honor of the new name of the IMA library, renamed the Leïla Shahid Library, after the great voice of Palestine in France and Europe who passed away last February.
In 2001, Joss Dray was commissioned by the IMA to carry out a photographic report in Palestine. Through her photographs, she documents the daily life of Palestinians, whether they live in the Palestinian territories, in refugee camps, or within the diaspora. Her work covers, in particular, the camps of Jabalia, Shati, Kalandia, Dheisheh, and Jenin, as well as several camps in Lebanon.
Joss Dray
A French photographer, Joss Dray began documenting the daily life and forms of resistance of the Palestinian people in 1987. Her work has been the subject of numerous exhibitions and publications, including Revenir à Jénine. Une histoire vivante du camp de réfugiés (1989-2018), published in 2020 and prefaced by Leïla Shahid.
Our take on this event
As part of the 2026 European Heritage Days, the Institut du Monde Arabe unveils a photographic retrospective by Joss Dray, dedicated to Palestine. The exhibition serves as a tribute to Leïla Shahid, whose name now graces the institution’s library. Through images captured since a 2001 mission, the collection documents the realities of daily life in Palestinian camps such as Jabalia, Shati, Kalandia, Dheisheh, and Jénine, as well as refugee settlements in Lebanon.
This exhibition reflects the long-term dedication of the French photographer, who has documented Palestinian resistance since 1987. Located at 1, rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard, the gallery welcomes guests from Tuesday to Sunday, 13:00 to 19:00. Admission is free of charge.
The venue prioritizes inclusivity, ensuring the exhibition is fully accessible to wheelchair users. Dedicated support and mediation tools are available for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, including sign language services. Furthermore, the space is adapted to welcome individuals who are blind or partially sighted, as well as those with cognitive disabilities.
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