Riham Isaac is a performance artist from Palestine, weaving together a range of artistic practices – acting, singing, dancing, and video. She holds an MA in “Performance Making” from Goldsmiths. Through themes like gender, politics, resistance, societal dynamics, and collective imagination, Riham explores overlooked narratives, challenging perceptions and provoking meaningful dialogue and change.
Inspired by early experiences in her vibrant community in Beit-Sahour, her passion for performance was ignited by the rich cultural heritage and resilience of her people. In 2017, she co-directed ‘The Alternativity’ in Bethlehem alongside Danny Boyle and Banksy, a highly political yet playful show spotlighted in a BBC2 documentary. At the 2014 Qalandia International Biennale, her performance ‘Stone on Road’ encapsulated the ongoing Palestinian struggle on the streets of Ramallah. Recently, her solo performance “Another Lover’s Discourse,” commissioned by the Belfast International Arts Festival, earned a nomination as the VAULT Festival 2023 show of the week. Riham has also collaborated with institutions like the A.M. Qattan Foundation in Ramallah and the British Council in East Jerusalem.
Currently, she is driven by the question of how we perform land in times of crisis and how to address concepts of land, resistance, and cultural activism. Her work is rooted in personal experiences and the collective memory of her community, continuously inspiring her to create impactful and thought-provoking art.
