Iraqi-American Artist Paints Gaza’s Pain on Milwaukee Wall

Iraqi-American Artist Paints Gaza’s Pain on Milwaukee Wall
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In the heart of Milwaukee, a powerful mural by Iraqi-American artist David Najib Kasir has brought the anguish of Gaza to life, turning an alleyway into a canvas of protest and remembrance. Titled Exclusion of Children, the mural was painted in the city’s Black Cat Alley and depicts the human toll of war on Palestinian civilians.

Kasir, born in Chicago in 1977 to a Syrian mother and a father who fled Saddam Hussein’s regime, uses his art to confront global silence and challenge narratives that dehumanize Arabs. His latest work gives voice to mothers’ grief and children’s suffering, demanding empathy and awareness.

Known for addressing refugee crises and personal loss, Kasir has previously painted Syrian tragedies. Some of his work has faced censorship, including a mural concealed behind dumpsters. Yet, he persists, transforming Milwaukee’s walls into a quiet resistance — a visual call for justice and a reclaiming of Arab humanity through art.