Who Is Sharona Katan? Artist, Writer & Wife of Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood

Sharona Katan isn’t a household name—but if you’ve ever searched for information about Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood’s personal life, you’ve likely come across hers. She’s an Israeli visual artist and co-owner of the olive oil company ShufraDiShufra who maintains a relatively private existence while occasionally stepping into public view through social media and published writing. Her story offers a window into the life of someone who balances creative work, entrepreneurship, and the unique position of being connected to one of modern rock’s most influential musicians.

Understanding who Sharona Katan is requires looking beyond the surface-level celebrity associations. She’s built her own identity as an artist and business owner while navigating the public attention that comes with her relationship.

This profile explores her background, career, public presence, and the moments that have brought her into wider public awareness.

Who is Sharona Katan?

Sharona Katan is an Israeli visual artist widely recognized as the wife of Jonny Greenwood, the guitarist and keyboardist for Radiohead. While she keeps much of her personal life private, she has established her own creative practice, co-owns ShufraDiShufra—an olive oil company—and has contributed writing to Haaretz, one of Israel’s most prominent daily newspapers, where she addressed topics including her opposition to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Her public profile sits at an interesting intersection—she’s both an independent creative professional and someone whose name surfaces in entertainment news due to her marriage. Unlike many partners of famous musicians who avoid the spotlight entirely, Katan occasionally uses her platform to speak out on issues she cares about, particularly regarding Middle Eastern politics and humanitarian concerns.

Early Life and Background

Katan was born and raised in Israel, and her Israeli heritage continues to inform both her artistic perspective and her public commentary. Growing up in the country shaped her understanding of the region’s political complexities—an awareness that surfaces regularly in her social media posts and published writing.

Her path to the visual arts appears to have developed through her formative years in Israel, though she has kept specific details about her education and early career private. This selective approach to personal history is consistent with how she’s managed her public presence overall—open about her views while maintaining clear boundaries around family details.

Artistic Career and Practice

As a visual artist, Katan works across different media, building a creative practice that she views as a distinct part of her identity—separate from her husband’s public profile. Her professional life extends beyond the studio as well: she co-owns ShufraDiShufra, an olive oil company rooted in Israeli agricultural traditions, reflecting interests that span both creative and entrepreneurial domains.

Her artistic output isn’t extensively documented in mainstream outlets, which may reflect a deliberate choice—many working artists prefer to let their work speak for itself rather than building large digital presences.

Notable Works and Credits

According to IMDB, Katan has at least one film credit to her name, indicating work in or around the film industry—often in roles like production design or art direction that operate behind the scenes. Beyond film, her broader art practice continues alongside her business ventures, though she doesn’t maintain a large public-facing gallery presence online.

Public Profile: Social Media and Public Voice

Katan maintains accounts on both X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where she shares her perspectives more openly than in traditional media interviews. Her social media presence reveals someone deeply engaged with current events, particularly issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and broader Middle Eastern politics.

Among her more prominent public statements, she accused UNRWA—the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees—of serving as “accomplices in Hamas’ terrorism,” a claim that generated significant discussion and pushback online. Posts like these reflect a willingness to take direct, politically charged stances that many celebrity spouses avoid.

Her tone on social media is consistent—direct, passionate, and unapologetic. She doesn’t shy away from contentious topics, and for followers interested in her perspective, these platforms remain the most direct access to her views.

Personal Life: Relationships and Family Context

Sharona Katan has been married to Jonny Greenwood since 1995. The couple resides in Oxford, England, and raises their three children in the Jewish faith. They have maintained a relatively low profile compared to other rock musician families, rarely appearing together at high-profile events or giving joint interviews.

Greenwood himself is known for guarding his personal life, and Katan shares this preference for keeping family matters out of the public eye. He has, however, spoken about making frequent trips to Israel—where he joined protests at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv—and about his close musical collaboration with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa. These connections keep the family deeply tied to Israeli cultural life even while based in England.

The relationship between her public identity and her husband’s fame is layered. She’s carved out her own space while inevitably being associated with Radiohead’s legacy—a balance that appears to work for both of them.

Media Coverage and Public Controversies

Katan’s name has surfaced in press coverage primarily around two subjects: her relationship with Greenwood and her political positions on the Middle East.

The most sustained public attention came amid the broader debate over musicians performing in Israel. Radiohead faced mounting pressure to endorse the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement—a call the band repeatedly refused. The war in Gaza intensified these demands further, bringing renewed scrutiny to the band and, by extension, to Katan’s publicly stated views.

She had already entered this discourse directly through her writing in Haaretz, where she criticized the BDS movement. Her published stance positioned her not just as a celebrity spouse with opinions but as a participant in the debate in her own right.

Controversy

The controversy escalated when, during a Radiohead show in Melbourne, Thom Yorke had a public altercation with a pro-Palestine protester—an incident that drew widespread media coverage. The band later addressed the situation comprehensively in an interview with The Sunday Times.

In that interview, Thom Yorke stated he would “absolutely not” bring Radiohead back to Israel: “I wouldn’t want to be 5,000 miles anywhere near the Netanyahu regime, but Jonny has roots there. So I get it.” Ed O’Brien reflected that the band “should have played Ramallah in the West Bank as well.” Philip Selway described the BDS movement’s demands as “impossible,” noting that distancing the band from Greenwood “would mean the end of the band.”

Greenwood himself was candid about the tension: “I spend a lot of time there with family and cannot just say, ‘I’m not making music with you fuckers because of the government.’ It makes no sense to me. I have no loyalty—or respect, obviously—to their government, but I have both for the artists born there.” He added that he felt “frightened to admit” he was working on a record with Israeli and Middle Eastern musicians, yet called that collaboration “progressive.”

Red Pepper, a progressive UK publication, also covered the broader conversation around cultural boycotts and the band’s Israel connections, contextualizing Katan’s views within a wider political debate.

Public Perception and Legacy

How people view Sharona Katan depends on the lens applied. In art and business circles, she’s recognized as a creative professional who has built her own practice and co-founded ShufraDiShufra. Radiohead fans encounter her primarily through Greenwood’s biography and the band’s complex relationship with Israel. Political observers—and critics—know her for her outspoken positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, her criticism of UNRWA, and her published opposition to the BDS movement.

This layered identity makes her a figure who resists simple categorization. She is neither fully private nor fully public, neither defined solely by her marriage nor entirely independent of it. As the broader political conversation around the Middle East continues to evolve, her public profile will likely remain shaped by both her own choices and the ongoing debate surrounding cultural engagement with Israel.

Career Timeline

While comprehensive dating is difficult for every milestone, here’s what can be verified:

• 1995: Married Jonny Greenwood; the couple established their life together in England.
• Artistic career: Built a visual art practice working across multiple media.
• Film credit: Received an IMDB listing for work connected to the film industry.
• ShufraDiShufra: Co-founded an olive oil company rooted in Israeli traditions.
• Haaretz: Published writing in one of Israel’s leading newspapers, including criticism of the BDS movement.
• Social media presence: Built active accounts on X (@KatanSharona) and Instagram, sharing political and cultural commentary.
• Ongoing: Continues working as an artist and business owner while addressing public issues through her platforms.

Where to Follow and Learn More?

For those wanting to learn more about Sharona Katan beyond basic biographical facts, her own social media accounts are the most direct sources. Her X account (@KatanSharona) and Instagram provide access to her thoughts and occasional glimpses into her creative work.

For verified professional credits, IMDB offers a listing, though it may not reflect her complete body of work. News coverage tends to be tied to her husband’s career or political discussions rather than her independent artistic achievements.

Anyone researching Katan should note that her name also appears in some sources as Sharon Kanon, so researchers should account for this variation when searching.

A Note on Sources and Verification

Information about Sharona Katan comes from various online sources, including her own social media accounts, news coverage, and professional databases. Core facts—her marriage to Greenwood, her Israeli background, her business ventures, and her published writing in Haaretz—appear consistently across multiple platforms. Specific details, such as comprehensive exhibition history, are less readily available in public sources.

The most reliable information comes directly from her own social media accounts, her IMDB listing, and verifiable press coverage in outlets like Haaretz and The Sunday Times. This profile has been compiled from those primary and secondary sources.

Conclusion

Sharona Katan is an Israeli visual artist, business owner, and the wife of Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood. She co-owns the olive oil company ShufraDiShufra and has published writing in Haaretz, Israel’s leading daily newspaper. Married to Greenwood since 1995 and based in Oxford, England, she raises three children while maintaining an active presence on social media where she discusses art, politics, and Middle Eastern issues—including direct criticism of UNRWA and opposition to the BDS movement.