Bethlehem in Watercolor

Bring the exhibition to your community

Three Centuries of a Palestinian City

From the Bethlehem of the nineteenth-century watercolorist to the Bethlehem of the contemporary Palestinian artist — a city seen, remembered and reimagined across three centuries.

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About the Exhibition

Bethlehem in Watercolor: Three Centuries of a Palestinian City is a visual journey through the changing appearance, landscape, architecture and identity of Bethlehem.

Across three centuries, Bethlehem has been observed, painted, photographed, remembered and reimagined by artists and image-makers from different backgrounds. This exhibition brings these visual histories into conversation with contemporary Palestinian artistic perspectives.

From nineteenth-century views of the city to contemporary interpretations of Bethlehem today, the exhibition asks a simple but powerful question:

How has Bethlehem been seen, remembered and represented across three centuries?

The exhibition brings together historical imagery, watercolor interpretations and contemporary Palestinian artistic responses to create a visual dialogue between past and present.

Rather than presenting Bethlehem only as a biblical or historical memory, Bethlehem in Watercolor presents it as a living Palestinian city — continually changing, continually remembered, and continually seen through the eyes of artists.

The Christmas season provides the doorway into this exhibition, but the story extends far beyond Christmas. It is a story of landscape, architecture, heritage, memory, identity and the continuing life of Bethlehem.

The Three Chapters

III. 21st Century - The Living City

I. 19th Century - The Historic City

II. 20th Century - The Changing City

About the Watercolor Interpretations

The watercolor interpretations in this exhibition are new digital artworks created by Palestinian artist Munir Alawi, based on historical views and images of Bethlehem.

For the 19th- and 20th-century sections, Munir Alawi transforms selected historical images of Bethlehem into contemporary digital watercolor artworks, reinterpreting the city's historic landscapes, architecture and visual character through his own artistic approach.

These works are new artistic interpretations by Munir Alawi and are not presented as original historical artworks. The historical images and artists that served as sources are credited wherever applicable.

For the 21st-century section, Munir Alawi transforms his own contemporary photography of Bethlehem into digital watercolor artworks, creating a visual continuation from the historical city to Bethlehem today.

Same View / Different Century

Bethlehem — Then and Now

Historic view — Munir Alawi — 2015

THEN

NOW

Contemporary interpretation — Munir Alawi — 2026

ONE CITY — THREE CENTURIES
Bethlehem in Watercolor

Three Centuries of a Palestinian City

One city. Three centuries. Four ways of seeing Bethlehem.

Discover Bethlehem through historical images and contemporary watercolor interpretations by Palestinian artist Munir Alawi. From the city's changing skyline and the enduring Church of the Nativity to Manger Square and the streets where everyday life unfolds, this exhibition explores how Bethlehem has been seen, remembered, and reimagined across the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries.

Bringing historical views into conversation with contemporary Palestinian artistic perspectives, Bethlehem in Watercolor celebrates the city's architecture, cultural heritage, collective memory, and continuing life.

Christmas may be the doorway, but Bethlehem's story extends far beyond the season.

Explore the exhibition. Bring it to your community.

Four Ways of Seeing Bethlehem

Explore three centuries of history, architecture, and heritage through four interconnected perspectives on Bethlehem and its surroundings.

Manger Square

Bethlehem Skyline

The Church of the Nativity

Landmarks & Sacred Sites

The Bethlehem Skyline - Three Centuries of a Changing City

Explore Bethlehem's evolving skyline through historic views and watercolor interpretations, tracing the transformation of its rooftops, hills, and architectural landmarks from the nineteenth century to the present.

III. 21st Century

I. 19th Century

II. 20th Century

The Church of the Nativity - A Sacred Landmark Through the Ages

Discover the enduring presence of the Church of the Nativity through historical imagery and watercolor interpretations that reveal its architectural character, spiritual significance, and place in Bethlehem's history.

III. 21st Century

I. 19th Century

II. 20th Century

Manger Square - The Heart of Bethlehem Through Time

Journey through the changing appearance of Manger Square, a historic gathering place where architecture, faith, public life, and the identity of Bethlehem converge across generations.

III. 21st Century

I. 19th Century

II. 20th Century

Landmarks & Sacred Sites - The Enduring Heritage of Bethlehem and Its Surroundings

Explore the historic landmarks, monasteries, sacred places, and cultural landscapes that enrich Bethlehem's wider heritage, brought to life through historical views and contemporary watercolor interpretations.

III. 21st Century

I. 19th Century

II. 20th Century

Why Bethlehem in Watercolor?

An exhibition can create something that an individual artwork or online collection cannot:
a shared physical experience.

Bethlehem has been painted for centuries.
But the city itself has never stopped changing.
Bethlehem in Watercolor brings these different moments together and asks us to look again.
At Bethlehem as it was seen by artists in the nineteenth century.
At Bethlehem as it changed through the twentieth century.
And at Bethlehem as a Palestinian artist sees it today.
One city. Three centuries. Countless ways of seeing it.

Physical Exhibition
A ready-to-display exhibition

For galleries, universities and established institutions with exhibition budgets.

Included:

Professionally produced fine-art prints
Framing options
Artwork labels and exhibition materials
Promotional and press materials
Host toolkit & installation guidance
Delivery to your venue

Pricing: Custom pricing

Based on artwork selection, size, quantity, framing and destination.

Digital Exhibition License
Create the exhibition locally.

Ideal for international organizations, smaller nonprofits, community groups and institutions where shipping is costly or complicated.

* High-resolution, print- ready artwork files
* Artwork selection (12 or 24 pieces)
* Exhibition materials & wall labels
* Promotional materials & press-release template
* Host toolkit & installation guidance

12 Artworks $199.95
24 Artworks $395.95
36 Artworks $549.95
48 Artworks $695.95

REQUEST DIGITAL LICENSE

INQUIRE ABOUT A PHYSICAL EXHIBITION

Your Host Toolkit

Everything you need to present the exhibition.

We provide a complete toolkit to help you promote and present Bethlehem in Watercolor with confidence and ease.

Catalogue

Digital exhibition catalogue
Artist information
Artwork information
Exhibition statement

Curatorial Materials

Exhibition statement
Artist biography
Thematic section details
Artwork titles & descriptions

Gallery Materials

Printable wall labels
QR codes
Installation guidance
Artwork specifications

Promotional Materials

Exhibition poster template
Social-media graphics
Press-release template
Digital promotional assets

VIEW TOOLKIT DETAILS

How It Works

From inquiry to exhibition — it's simple.

5 - Install & Present

Share the exhibition with your community.

1 - Contact Us

Tell us about your organization, venue and proposed dates.

2 - Choose Your Format

We'll help you decide between digital or physical options.

3 - Confirm the Exhibition

We'll finalize artwork selection, licensing and event details.

4 - Receive Your Materials

Get your exhibition files, Host Toolkit or physical package.

Who Can Host?

Galleries & Museums
Universities & Colleges
Schools & Educational Institutions
Cultural Centers
Nonprofit Organizations
Community Organizations

Faith Communities
Human Rights Organizations
Palestinian & Arab Community Groups
Student Organizations
Arts & Cultural Festivals
Public Institutions

We welcome inquiries from:

Host an Exhibition in Your City

Bring the art. Create the conversation.

Whether you're a gallery in London, a university in North America, or a community center anywhere in the world — we invite you to host Bethlehem in Watercolor.

REQUEST TO HOST

Artist Munir Alawi