Woman Combing Hair by Patterned Curtain, 2020

Faisel Laibi Sahi (فيصل لعيبي صاحي), born in 1947 in Basra, Iraq, is a prominent Iraqi painter known for his vibrant depictions of everyday life and cultural heritage. Laibi Sahi’s work is characterized by a distinctive figurative style, often blending elements of Iraqi folklore and urban scenes with a modernist sensibility. His paintings frequently explore themes of memory, tradition, and the social fabric of Iraq, rendered in bold colors and expressive forms.

Laibi Sahi studied at the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad before continuing his education at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Over the decades, his work has been exhibited in major institutions, including the British Museum in London, which holds examples of his art in its collection. He has also participated in significant group exhibitions at venues such as the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris and Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, underscoring his international recognition. At auction, his paintings have appeared at leading houses including Christie’s, where his works have attracted attention from collectors of modern Arab art. Faisel Laibi Sahi remains an influential figure in the contemporary art scene, celebrated for his contributions to the visual culture of Iraq and the broader Arab world.