Misty Forest With Rocks and Deer, 1989

Batool Al-Fekaiki, born in Baghdad in 1941, is an Iraqi artist renowned for her evocative explorations of the human form. Her work delves into themes of identity, emotion, and mythology, often portraying the female body as a vessel of both joy and suffering. Al-Fekaiki employs a variety of mediums, including oil on canvas, watercolor, and ink, to create pieces that blend abstract expressionism with figurative elements.

Throughout her career, Al-Fekaiki has participated in numerous significant exhibitions. In 1973, she showcased her work at the Al-Wasiti Festival at the National Museum of Modern Art in Baghdad. She has also exhibited internationally, including at the Iraqi itinerant art exhibition in Paris, Damascus, and Kuwait in 1974, and the Iraqi Women Artists Exhibition in Kuwait, Madrid, Vienna, and Italy in 1975. Her solo exhibitions span various countries, such as her 1994 show at Sayda Interiors in London and her 2005 exhibition at Ibn Al-Thahir Gallery in Abu Dhabi. Notably, in 1998, she received the Golden Prize at the International Exhibition of Fine Arts in Al-Maharas, Tunisia, where she also completed a mural at the entrance of the sea port.

Al-Fekaiki's contributions extend beyond the gallery space; she has created several public murals, including a 2x7 meter piece at Baghdad Airport in 1983 and a 2x4 meter mural at the Iraqi Fashion House in 1984. Currently residing in London, she continues to produce art that reflects her deep connection to her Iraqi heritage and her experiences as an artist in the diaspora.