Yara Kassem Mahajena is a Palestinian multidisciplinary artist, lecturer and co-founder of Shahinat Burtuqal, a digital platform promoting Palestinian art. Her work explores trauma with a focus on political trauma and animal resistance in Palestine. She holds BA and MFA degrees from Haifa University, a Community Art certificate from Beit Berl, and a Leadership certificate from Roger Williams University (USA). Yara has taught at Haifa and Mercy University (NY) and held roles at Givat Haviva, Bezalel Academy and Umm Al-Fahm Museum. She has exhibited and curated internationally and received multiple awards recognizing her artistic achievements.