Toronto, November 4, 2025 – Ibrahim Abusitta is this year’s recipient of the Laura Ciruls Painting Award. The $7,000 award is given annually to recognize an Ontario based mid-career painter.
About Ibrahim Abusitta
Ibrahim Abusitta is a Palestinian-Canadian visual artist based in Toronto. Through a painting practice that draws from personal and political histories, he explores cultural memory, resilience, and the layered nuances of diasporic identity. His work has recently been featured on the cover of Briarpatch magazine and on the forthcoming book A Year on the Abyss of Genocide by Mahmoud Al Shaer (ARP Books).
Abusitta has exhibited in Canada and the U.S. and is also an arts worker, documenting exhibitions and artworks across the city.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this painting prize,” states Ibrahim Abusitta. “I would be remiss not to dedicate this moment to the memory of my mentor and dear friend, April Hickox, a wonderful artist and a constant inspiration. For over ten years, since our time together in art school and continuing through my role as her assistant, her wisdom and guidance have been a cornerstone of my practice. This achievement is a testament to her belief in me.
About the Award
The Laura Ciruls Painting Award was established by Laura Ciruls, a professional graphic and web designer, as well as an acrylic and watercolour painter. Through a bequest, Laura set up the Laura Ciruls Painting Award, to recognize artists like herself, who were contributing to the development of painting in Ontario.
The Ontario Arts Foundation manages the endowment that funds the award. The Ontario Arts Council is responsible for the selection process. The award recipient is selected through the Ontario Arts Council’s peer assessment process from the applicants to one of the two annual Ontario Arts Council Visual Artists Creation Projects (Mid-career category) program deadlines.
Previous award winners include Héritier Bilaka (2024), Emmanuel Osahor (2023), and Miguel Hernandez Autorino (2022). See the full list of previous recipients.
Artist Statement: What is a Home, What is a Homeland
“This series What is a Home, What is a Homeland delves into the rich tapestry of Palestinian history and its stark present-day realities. By blending personal imagery, ancestral narratives, and depictions of momentous events, I construct a multifaceted exploration of the Palestinian experience.
Central to this work is the motif of a house—a poignant symbol of my grandparents’ home, tragically destroyed in the recent assault on Gaza. This motif acts as both frame and outline, grounding the viewer in the intimate, yet universal, concept of home and its profound significance within the Palestinian narrative.
Inspired by the vivid hues of memory and the dream-like quality of collective consciousness, my paintings traverse the realms of past, present, and imagined futures. Through a collage of contrasting scenes and an interplay of colour, I invite viewers on a visual journey where history converges with contemporary struggle, and personal stories intertwine with broader narratives of resistance and resilience.
Against the deluge of media imagery depicting the atrocities of war, my work offers a nuanced perspective that acknowledges complex historical layers and the enduring spirit of a people in steadfast pursuit of liberation. By rendering moments of significance to those familiar with the Palestinian cause, I endeavour to foster empathy, understanding, and a deeper engagement with the ongoing fight for justice and freedom.” Ibrahim Abusitta
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For information, please contact:
Bruce Bennett, Executive Director
Ontario Arts Foundation
Tel: (416) 969-7413 bbennett@oafdn.ca
Established in 1991, the Ontario Arts Foundation (OAF) is passionately committed to building long-term support for the arts in Ontario. In 2024-2025, the OAF paid over $4.8 million in endowment income and $540,000 in awards and grants.
For 60 years, the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) has played a vital role in promoting and assisting the development of the arts for the enjoyment and benefit of Ontarians. In 2024-2025, OAC invested its grants program budget of $52.2 million in 204 communities across 123 Ontario ridings, providing 1,960 grants to individual artists and 1,030 grants to organizations.
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