Institut du monde arabe Highlights Algerian Painter Baya

The Institut du monde arabe (IMA) in Paris is hosting a significant exhibition titled «Baya, icône de la peinture algérienne – Femmes en leur Jardin,» which runs from November 8 to March 26, 2023. Organized by the IMA Museum and the Claude and France Lemand donation, the exhibition honors Baya, recognized as a singular Algerian artist of the 20th century. Part of the program «2022, regards sur l’Algérie à l’IMA,» the retrospective highlights Baya’s works, which are characterized by their joyful, elegant, and colorful depictions, often featuring women, flowers, and animals.

Baya gained recognition at the age of 16, and her talent, which spans ceramics and painting, captivated figures such as Picasso and André Breton. Jack Lang, President of the Institut du monde arabe, described Baya as an “exceptional woman” and an “icon of Algerian painting,” noting her status as a legend. Her prolific artistic output has achieved appreciation on the international art market, and she was awarded the Grand Prix de peinture de la ville d’Alger in 1969.

The exhibition is presented as the first major global retrospective of Baya’s work, offering a historical dimension that contextualizes her emergence onto the art scene. Curators have aimed to document all periods of her life, from her early recognition in Paris and Algeria within the colonial historical context, to her artistic evolution. The display includes works from the Claude and France Lemand donation, national overseas archives, and various other loans, showcasing her journey and themes, including the introduction of music from the 1960s and her sculptures, which Picasso notably admired.