About Me

Sami Shahin, a multi-disciplinary queer artist of Palestinian and Syrian heritage, is deeply rooted in illustration, digital art, and animation. Passionate about bolstering representation within the SWANA queer artist community, he intricately weaves his background into his art, drawing from the rich tapestry of Levantine Arab history with a pronounced focus on the liberation movements of the Palestinian people, interwoven with his queer identity.

Trained in traditional animation, concept art, and graphic design at the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts and Emily Carr University, Sami’s artistic canvas extends across marketing, animation, graphic design, illustration, and rug design. His art, vibrant in hues and unconventional perspectives, navigates profound themes while retaining an approachable aesthetic. This culminated in the publication of his inaugural children’s storybook, Sophie’s Story: I Have Cancer, in 2022. His work has been exhibited as part of the 2024 Vine Arts Festival and featured by Saint Levant’s 2048 Foundation. His protest posters—created in ongoing collaboration with Flyers for Falastin—have reached audiences around the world.

Born in Damascus, Syria, Sami has lived in London, UK, and now resides on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples—Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō, and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.