Refugee Art in Azraq: A Message of Hope and Resilience

Last month, USA for UNHCR’s Elizabeth Marks traveled to Jordan and saw firsthand how donations to USA for UNHCR are making a direct impact on the lives of Syrian refugees. As an artist, Elizabeth felt a special connection with Mouayad, a Syrian artist living in Azraq refugee camp.

Amid rows and rows of white metal buildings, the heart of Jordan’s Azraq refugee camp appears as if a mirage. Brightly colored buildings adorned with large murals contrast against the desert landscape, a palette of beige, brown and washed with an ever-expansive sky. As an artist myself, seeing the colors and artwork immediately brought a smile to my face.

A mural on the side of a building in the heart of Azraq refugee camp.

The heart of Azraq is no mirage, but a lively community center where refugees access health clinics, learning centers, an employment office and unexpectedly, an art gallery.

Walking through the community center, I took note of additional murals painted and asked our guide who the artists were. The murals were created by refugees of all ages. The pieces communicate in ways their voices cannot. The murals convey pride in a homeland they have been forced from, a life outside the camp they hope to return to and reveal dreams for a peaceful future.

It is clear the art brings joy to the community, especially the children, and fills an emptiness felt in other parts of the camp. Everywhere I turned, I saw beautiful pieces, whether a mosaic mirror in the sewing room or painted walls in the learning center, artwork warmed all the spaces.

The walls of the art gallery display more than a hundred works of art depicting scenes of everyday life, family, the war in Syria and places far away. In the gallery, I met Mouayad, a young man in his early 20s whose work intrigued me and showed the sophistication of an artist with training and years of experience. Through his work, Mouayad captures a world he knew before the war that serves as a reminder of life outside. He told me how fortunate he felt to be able to paint while in the camp.

Mouayad displays some of his paintings in Azraq's art gallery.

Even though Mouayad and I do not share the same language, we both understand art and the process used to create it. We shared painting techniques and I showed him pictures of my paintings. Art is universal and does not need a specific language to be recognized or appreciated.

Experiencing first-hand the refugee art at Azraq solidified a message of hope and resilience. Art plays a very important role in their lives and communicates to all who witness it a story of integrity, opportunity and ultimately healing.

 Here’s how you can help…

The UN Refugee Agency relies on people like you so that Mouayad can hold on to a small piece of his identity by having the resources to continue painting. Please become a monthly donor. Your strong and steady support will help our world's most vulnerable people 365 days a year. Join your fellow caring Americans by making your first gift today.