Sharona Katan stands at an unusual crossroads. She’s a visual artist who works under the name Shin Katan, creating photographic sculptures that blend 17th-century Flemish aesthetics with modern techniques. She’s also the wife of Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead’s lead guitarist and acclaimed film composer.
But most people searching her name aren’t looking for art history. They want to understand her role in one of rock music’s most heated political debates.
Who Is Sharona Katan?
Born in May 1971 in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sharona grew up in Kiryat Ono with a heritage that reflects Middle Eastern Jewish history. Her father’s family came from Iraq, her mother’s from Egypt—both part of the mass exodus of Jewish communities from Arab countries following Israel’s founding in 1948.
This background matters because it shapes her identity as an Arab Jew, or Mizrahi Jew. It’s a term many people outside the region don’t fully understand, but it describes Jews whose families lived in the Middle East and North Africa for centuries before political upheaval forced them out.
In 1993, a young British band called Radiohead played their first concert in Israel. Sharona met guitarist Jonny Greenwood at that show. Two years later, they married. They now have three children with Hebrew names—Tamir, Omri, and Zohar—and split their time between Oxford, England, and a countryside property in Le Marche, Italy.
What Does Sharona Katan Do Professionally?
Visual Art Career
Under her professional name Shin Katan, Sharona works primarily in photographic sculpture. She uses liquid photographic emulsion applied to unconventional surfaces, manipulates camera negatives from film productions, and creates pieces that blur the line between photography and three-dimensional art.
Her 2009 exhibition “Stilleven” at O3 Gallery in Oxford drew inspiration from Flemish still life paintings. She used exaggerated scale, artificial monochrome coloring, and photographic emulsion techniques to reimagine classic composition styles.
She’s also designed album covers for several of Jonny Greenwood’s film soundtracks, including “There Will Be Blood” and “Bodysong.” For these projects, she used camera negatives from the actual film shoots, creating visual art from cinematic source material.
Work in Film
In 2015, director Paul Thomas Anderson filmed “Junun,” a documentary about Jonny Greenwood recording music at Mehrangarh Fort in Rajasthan, India. Sharona served as camera operator on the project, which brought together Israeli composer Shye Ben Tzur, Indian musicians, and Greenwood for an experimental album.
The film shows her behind-the-scenes involvement in creative projects that bridge cultures—something that would later become controversial.
Olive Oil Business
Sharona and Jonny co-own Greenwood Oil, an olive oil company operating from their Italian property. She attended courses across Europe on olive oil production and blending, learning traditional and modern cultivation methods.
They grow local Italian olive varieties using experimental intensive planting techniques usually reserved for vineyards. The oil sells through Radiohead’s W.A.S.T.E online shop, with labels designed by Stanley Donwood, the band’s longtime visual collaborator.
It’s a surprisingly hands-on venture for a couple who could easily live off music royalties alone.
Charitable Work
She serves on the committee of ArteProArte, a charitable organization in Le Marche focused on restoring cultural heritage damaged by the 2016 earthquake that struck central Italy. The work involves preserving churches, artwork, and historic structures that local communities can’t afford to repair on their own.
Why Sharona Katan Became a Controversial Figure
Here’s where things get complicated.
The 2017 Radiohead-BDS Standoff
In 2017, Radiohead announced a concert in Tel Aviv. The BDS movement—which stands for Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions—called on the band to cancel. BDS advocates for Palestinian rights through economic and cultural pressure on Israel, similar to the anti-apartheid movement’s tactics against South Africa in the 1980s.
Artists like Roger Waters publicly pressured Radiohead to cancel. Thom Yorke, the band’s frontman, refused. In a Rolling Stone interview, he explained: “The person who knows most about these things is Jonny. He has both Palestinian and Israeli friends and a wife who’s an Arab Jew.”
That statement pulled Sharona into the public eye. Critics argued that Radiohead was using her heritage as a shield to avoid accountability. Supporters said her perspective as an Arab Jew offered nuance that Western activists often ignore.
Her Public Statements
Sharona has maintained extreme privacy throughout her marriage, avoiding photos, interviews, and most social media. But she does have a Twitter/X account (@KatanSharona) where she occasionally posts about politics.
In 2017, she gave what she called her “first and last interview” to an Israeli newspaper. She wrote an opinion piece for Haaretz titled “I am pro-peace,” defending her position while acknowledging the complexity of the conflict.
After October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, her social media activity increased. She shared content supporting Israel’s military response, criticized UNRWA (the UN agency for Palestinian refugees), and posted allegations about Hamas that some fact-checkers later disputed.
Family Tragedy
In 2024, Sharona’s nephew was killed while serving in the Israel Defense Forces during operations in Gaza. This personal loss deepened her connection to the conflict and likely influenced her public statements during that period.
Critics pointed to her posts as evidence of supporting what they consider genocide. Supporters saw a grieving aunt processing trauma in real time.
The Dudu Tassa Collaboration Controversy
Jonny Greenwood has collaborated extensively with Dudu Tassa, an Israeli musician of Iraqi and Yemeni Jewish heritage. Together, they’ve recorded albums celebrating the Arabic-language music that Tassa’s grandparents performed before leaving Iraq.
The 2023 album “Jarak Qaribak” (which means “Your Neighbor Is Your Friend”) featured musicians from Israel, Iraq, the UAE, Egypt, Morocco, and Yemen. Sharona is credited as “Project developed with,” suggesting she facilitated these cross-cultural connections.
For some, this represents exactly the kind of people-to-people collaboration that transcends political conflict. The project preserves Iraqi Jewish musical heritage that was nearly erased when Iraq’s Jewish population fled or was expelled in the 1950s.
For others, it’s “artwashing”—using cultural projects to normalize Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
In May 2025, several UK venues canceled scheduled Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood concerts following threats and pressure campaigns. The artists released a statement condemning the “censorship of Jewish artistic expression.”
What Is an Arab Jew, and Why Does It Matter?
This term confuses many people, so it’s worth explaining.
Arab Jew or Mizrahi Jew refers to Jewish communities that lived in Arab and Middle Eastern countries for centuries. These aren’t converts or recent immigrants—many trace their presence in places like Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, and Morocco back thousands of years.
After Israel’s founding in 1948, most Arab countries expelled or pressured their Jewish populations to leave. About 850,000 Jews from Arab countries fled to Israel between 1948 and the 1970s. They left behind property, businesses, and communities that had existed since ancient times.
Sharona’s family represents this history. Her Iraqi and Egyptian roots don’t make her “less Israeli” or “more Palestinian”—they reflect a Middle Eastern Jewish identity that predates modern political borders.
This identity challenges simplistic narratives. She’s simultaneously:
- Jewish (religiously and culturally)
- Of Arab heritage (Iraqi and Egyptian ancestry)
- Israeli (by birth and citizenship)
- British (by residence)
- Opposed to BDS (politically)
- Married to a British rock star
None of these facts alone explain her views, but together they create a perspective that doesn’t fit neatly into pro-Israel or pro-Palestine categories as activists in the West understand them.
Common Misunderstandings About Sharona Katan
Confusion With Other People
At least three different women named “Sharona Katan” appear in search results:
- Sharona Katan (the artist) — Subject of this article, married to Jonny Greenwood
- Sharona Ghodsian Katan — Beverly Hills lawyer licensed in California since 1993
- Sharona Katan — Project manager at Shemesh Foundation in Israel
Make sure you’re reading about the right person. The artist is also called Shin Katan professionally and Sharona Katan-Greenwood in UK business records.
“She Controls Radiohead’s Political Decisions”
This oversimplifies a complex band dynamic. Radiohead members have expressed varying views on Israel-Palestine over the years. Thom Yorke said in October 2025 that he wouldn’t perform “anywhere near” Netanyahu’s government, suggesting his position has shifted.
Sharona’s views likely influence Jonny’s perspective, but portraying her as a puppet master ignores Radiohead’s history of thoughtful political engagement on issues from climate change to corporate malfeasance.
“She’s Just a Celebrity Spouse”
Before becoming known for controversy, Sharona built a legitimate artistic career. She holds an MA from Oxford’s prestigious Ruskin School of Drawing and Art, exhibited in respected galleries, and contributed creatively to film projects beyond her marriage.
Reducing her to “Jonny Greenwood’s wife” erases a decade of professional work.
“Her Heritage Makes Her an Authority on Palestine”
Being an Arab Jew gives Sharona a specific perspective, but it doesn’t make her more qualified than Palestinians to speak about Palestinian experience, just as her Israeli citizenship doesn’t make her less qualified to speak about Jewish displacement from Arab countries.
Heritage provides context, not authority. Her views are her own, shaped by family history, personal values, and political beliefs—not automatic wisdom.
Why This Matters Beyond Celebrity Gossip
Sharona Katan’s story touches on issues far bigger than one artist or one band:
Cultural boycotts and their effectiveness. Does refusing to perform in a country change government policy, or does it punish ordinary citizens and silence moderate voices?
Identity complexity in the Middle East. Arab Jews, Druze Israelis, Christian Palestinians, secular Israelis, and Muslim citizens of Israel all complicate the simplistic “two sides” narrative that dominates Western media.
Artists and political responsibility. How much should musicians research the politics of every venue? When does performing become endorsement?
Heritage and displacement. The 850,000 Jews who fled Arab countries rarely appear in conversations about refugees and displacement in the Middle East, even though their stories run parallel to Palestinian displacement.
Privacy in the digital age. Sharona never sought fame, gave one interview in 30+ years, and avoids photographs. Yet her political views became ammunition in debates she didn’t choose to join.
The Broader Picture: Cross-Cultural Music Projects
One underreported aspect of Sharona’s influence is her role in preserving Iraqi Jewish musical heritage through the Dudu Tassa collaborations.
When Jews left Iraq in the 1950s, they took musical traditions with them. Tassa’s grandparents were famous performers in Baghdad before emigrating to Israel. Their music—sung in Arabic, rooted in Iraqi maqam scales, and completely distinct from European Jewish traditions—represents a cultural bridge.
By facilitating projects between Jonny Greenwood and Tassa, Sharona helps preserve this heritage. The albums feature Arabic lyrics, traditional Middle Eastern instruments, and collaborations with Arab musicians from several countries.
Supporters see this as evidence of her commitment to cultural exchange and peace through art. Critics argue that Israeli appropriation of Arab culture doesn’t qualify as peace work when Palestinians lack basic rights.
Both perspectives have merit. The music is genuinely excellent and historically important. It’s also true that cultural projects don’t stop settlements or end occupation.
What Happens When Artists Enter Political Conflicts
Sharona’s situation illustrates a larger problem: once you’re associated with a polarized conflict, nuance disappears.
If she posts support for Israel, critics screenshot it as proof of complicity in war crimes. If she stays silent, people accuse her of cowardice or complicity through inaction. If she calls for peace, both sides accuse her of false equivalence.
There’s no position she can take that won’t anger someone. This is true for almost everyone connected to Israel-Palestine, but it’s especially harsh for someone who never wanted public attention.
Other examples show this pattern:
- Gal Gadot faced boycott calls for serving in the IDF (which is mandatory for Israeli citizens)
- Bella Hadid received backlash for supporting Palestinian rights despite her Palestinian father
- Natalie Portman was criticized both for attending an Israeli event and for later refusing an award
The conflict allows no neutral ground. You’re either complicit or a traitor, depending on who’s judging.
How Sharona Katan Manages Privacy
Despite the controversy, Sharona maintains remarkable privacy:
No photos. You can find pictures of Jonny Greenwood at public events, but Sharona almost never appears. The few photos that exist show her from behind or at extreme distance.
Minimal social media. Her Twitter/X account posts occasionally but shares no personal photos, family updates, or daily life details.
One interview. Her 2017 Israeli newspaper interview remains the only extended public statement she’s made. She explicitly called it her “first and last.”
Professional separation. She uses “Shin Katan” for artistic work, keeping some distance between her personal identity and creative output.
Business privacy. Her company directorship at Unreliable Limited (a UK entity registered since 2010) reveals almost nothing about its purpose or activities.
This level of privacy is unusual for someone married to a rock star for 30+ years. It suggests deliberate strategy and Jonny’s respect for her boundaries.
Common Questions People Have
Is Sharona Katan still married to Jonny Greenwood? Yes. They married in 1995 and have been together for over 30 years as of 2026.
Does she still make art? Her website (shinkatan.com) exists but hasn’t been updated recently with new exhibitions. She may be focusing on family, the olive oil business, or working privately without public shows.
What do her children think? Tamir, Omri, and Zohar maintain complete privacy. There’s no public information about their views, education, or lives beyond the fact that they’re raised with Jewish traditions.
Has she responded to recent boycott calls? Not directly. Her 2017 Haaretz article remains her most comprehensive public statement. Occasional social media posts suggest her views haven’t changed, but she doesn’t engage with critics online.
Can you separate Radiohead’s music from this controversy? That’s a personal decision. Some fans continue enjoying the music while disagreeing with the band’s Israel stance. Others feel supporting the band means supporting policies they oppose. There’s no universal answer.
Mistakes People Make When Discussing This Topic
Treating heritage as political position. Being Iraqi Jewish doesn’t automatically make someone pro-Israel or anti-Palestinian. Heritage is background, not belief.
Assuming marriage means identical views. Jonny and Sharona likely agree on many things, but attributing every Radiohead decision to her influence ignores the band’s complexity.
Ignoring her actual career. Focusing only on controversy erases her artistic work, which existed long before she became politically visible.
Oversimplifying BDS. The movement includes people with different goals—some seek policy change, others want Israel’s elimination. Painting all BDS supporters or opponents with one brush misses internal disagreements.
Expecting simple answers. Israel-Palestine is one of the world’s most complex conflicts. Anyone claiming easy solutions probably doesn’t understand the history.
If You’re Interested in This Topic
For artistic context: Look up her “Stilleven” exhibition if you’re interested in photographic sculpture. The techniques she uses—liquid emulsion, large-scale printing, Flemish composition—represent serious craft, regardless of political views.
For musical context: Listen to Dudu Tassa & Jonny Greenwood’s albums, especially “Jarak Qaribak.” Whether you agree with the political implications or not, the music offers a window into Iraqi Jewish heritage that’s rarely documented.
For political context: Read perspectives from Arab Jews, Mizrahi activists, and Middle Eastern voices before assuming Western frameworks explain everyone’s positions. The conflict looks different from inside the region.
For media literacy: Notice how sources frame Sharona. Pro-Israel outlets call her a “bridge builder.” Pro-Palestine outlets call her “complicit in apartheid.” The same facts support both narratives depending on emphasis.
For personal decisions: If you’re deciding whether to support Radiohead, attend concerts, or buy music, base it on your own values. Research multiple perspectives, understand the trade-offs, and accept that imperfect choices are still choices.
The Reality of Being Sharona Katan
She’s a 54-year-old artist who makes photographic sculptures, runs an olive oil business, raises three kids, and tries to maintain privacy while married to someone famous.
She also carries heritage connecting her to millennia of Middle Eastern Jewish history, holds political views that anger activists on multiple sides, and occasionally gets dragged into public debates she didn’t ask to join.
Both things are true. She’s simultaneously an ordinary person living a creative life and a symbol in a conflict that simplifies everyone it touches.
Understanding her requires holding complexity: she can be genuinely committed to peace while holding views others consider harmful. She can preserve Iraqi Jewish culture while critics accuse her of appropriation. She can experience real family tragedy while others experience far worse.
None of this makes her right or wrong. It makes her human—which is exactly what political conflicts strip away first.
People searching her name usually want a simple answer: Is she good or bad? Pro-peace or pro-war? Victim or villain?
The honest answer is she’s a person with a particular history making choices that seem right to her and harmful to others. Whether you agree with those choices depends on your own values, heritage, and understanding of an impossibly complex situation.
That’s not satisfying, but it’s true.
And in a conflict where everyone claims certainty, acknowledging uncertainty might be the most honest position available.
