Biografia
My Life as human been and artist
I am an Iraqi artist, born in the city of Basra, in the utmost southern part of Iraq, and grew up in a family devoted to culture and the arts and, like all my brothers, I started painting from a very early age.
I received my primary and secondary education in Basra, and consequently took up my studies at the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad. In the same period, I worked as an illustrator for the Iraqi press. After this, I left Iraq for the then Soviet Union in order to study and specialize in monumental art at the well-known Surikov Institute in Moscow.
Due to the political situation in Iraq, I was unable to return to my native country after the completion of my studies. Therefore, I decided to go to Italy and later Moscow. After having traveled to Italy a second time, I settled in Yemen to work as a teacher at the Institute of Fine Arts in Aden, where I also illustrated children’s books and magazines.
In spite of all the difficulties surrounding me many relocations, moving from one country to another, I am always continued to devote myself to my work, instead of focusing on the difficulties, I regarded my life with different languages and cultures an enrichment of my expertise and experience as an artist.
I have contributed to a great many cultural activities in support of the Iraqi and international democratic movement, in the struggle against terrorism, racism, war and dictatorship. I have been participated in numerous art exhibitions, from Baghdad and Moscow to Yemen, Italy, Syria, Lebanon, England and the United States.
During my youth, I have introduced to the international world of art through the books and publications in the library of my family in Basra. It was thanks to my family’s support that I was able to develop my artistic talents through further study. The developments that have taken place in my work over the years, during the various stages of my studies in Baghdad, Moscow, Italy and finally the Netherlands
I was deeply influenced by the work, and in particular the colors, of the French artist Toulouse Lautrec and the works of Picasso’s pink period, as well as by the finesse of Botticelli, Masaccio, Piero Della Francesca and other Italian Renaissance painters. During my time in Italy, I would be in an ideal position to deepen this knowledge of Italian Renaissance art through numerous and continuous visits to exhibitions, museums and churches.
While in Moscow, the spirituality of the Russian icons made a deep impression on me, especially during the early part of my studies. Later on, my knowledge was enriched further through extensive study of the rich and varied Russian and Soviets school.
I have been living and working in the Netherlands for several years now. Perhaps my most important show to date in the Netherlands was the retrospective of my works in the Museum Catharina gasthuis in Gouda. At present, I am working as a fulltime artist, periodically exhibiting my work in galleries in difference country.
I have been away from my native country of Iraq for more than 50 years now. Although I have repeatedly moved between countries during this time, I felt connected to every country I stayed in and all manner of people crossing my path. What I feel, in short, is a connection to humanity as a whole. It is my conviction that it is this feeling of connection, this solidarity, transcending geographical and cultural borders, which should unite all of humanity.
Afifa Aleiby
Curriculum
Afifa Aleiby-Curriculum Vitae- 1952: Born in Basra, Iraq
Academic Qualifications
1969-1974: Certificate Institute for Fine Arts, Baghdad, Iraq
1974-1981: Master of Arts at the Suurikof Institute for Fine Arts, Moscow, Russia
Work Experience
Illustrator of Tariq Al-Shaab (daily newspaper), and of several magazines for children, women and youth in Baghdad, Iraq
Illustrator of several books in Italy
Cooperation with several organizations for multicultural communication in Italy. Yemen. The Netherlands
1984-1986 Lecturer at the Institute of Fine Arts in Aden, South-Yemen.
Exhibiciones 1973 -2015
1973- Al-Jabha, Sahat al-Tahrir. Baghdad-Iraq
1974- Gallery of the Institute for Fine Arts. Baghdad, Iraq
1975- Gallery of the Organization of Iraqi artists. Baghdad, Iraq
1975- Gallery Nadi Al-Taaruf. Baghdad, Iraq
1996-Gallery Colbenkian. National Museum for Modern Art. Baghdad, Iraq
1981- Palagio di Parte Guelfa. Florence. Italy
1982- Ca Giustiniani. Venezia. Italy.
1982- Folklore Musume. Roma. Italy
1982- Arabic Culture Centre, Damasco, Syria
1982- Festival del Unita, Reggio Emilia. Italy.
1984- Gallery Bottega della Stampa. Brescia. Italy.
1986- Galleria Civica di Arte Moderna. Palazzo dei Diamanti. Ferrara, Italy
1986 -Nuova Galleria Internazionale, Roma, Italy.
1986- Folklore Musume. Damascus, Syria
1988- Fortezza S. Barbara. Pistoia, Italy
1990- Kufa Gallery, London, England
1992- Sala del Esposizione Quartiere No 1, Florence, Italy.
1993- Centro culturale Studio Palazzo, Festival due mondi, Spoleto, Italy
1994- City Gallery, Gouda. The Netherlands
1995- Zalm Hotel, Gouda. The Netherlands
1996- Arabic Cultural Centre. Brussels, Belgium
1996- Sale Topical, omaggio Gino Severini, Montespertoli, Italy
1997- Het Veem, Amsterdam. The Netherlands
1998- Fortezza S. Francesco. Omaggio a Dilvio Lotti, San Miniato, Italy
1999- Het Catharina Gasthuis Museum, Gouda. The Netherland
2000- Tjalf Gallery, Amsterdam. The Netherlands
2000- Beirut Biennale. Beirut. Lebanon
2000- Daar Al Mada– Damascus– Syria
2001-2014- De Twee Pauwen, The Hague. The Netherlands
2007- Exhibition space- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Den Haag. The Netherlands
2006- 2008- Gallery Prima Vista, Maastricht, the Netherlands
2006-2008- Galleria Torna buoni. Florence. Italy
2007-Transit Art, Amersfoort. The Netherlands
2008-2010- Zink Exposities, Bergen. The Netherlands.
2010-2017- Boushary Gallery. Salmia. Kuwait
2011- Family Exhibition. Tow brothers.
Son and I. Boushahry Gallery. Salmia. Kuwait
2013- Boushahry Gallery. Salmia. Kuwait
2017- Boushary Gallery. Salmia. Kuweit.
2019 – Pulchri.. The Hague. Netherlands
2019 – MoMa Museum. New York City.
2020 – Gallery Kristin hjellegjerde. London. UK.
2021 – Gallery Kristin Hjellegierde. Berlin. Germany
2021 – Picasso Gallery. Cairo. Egypt.
2022 – Dubai Art. UAE.
2023 – Dubai Art. UAE.
2023 – Alzawyea Gallery. Dubai. UAE
Flute
2012 – 70×70 cm
Moonlight
2016 – 100x80x30cm
Resting after Harvest
2023 – 90x80xH30cm
Spring Music
2017 – 70×60 cm
Vloed
1991 – 95x75cm
