Ghostly Figures in Misty Landscape, 1973

Layla Al Attar (ليلى العطار, also transliterated as Laila Al-Attar or Layla Al-Attar), born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1942, was a prominent Iraqi painter whose work played a significant role in the modern art movement of the Arab world. Al Attar’s artistic practice encompassed painting, drawing, and mixed media, often characterized by expressive figuration, vibrant color palettes, and a focus on the female form and Iraqi cultural motifs. Her style blended elements of modernism with traditional Middle Eastern aesthetics, reflecting both personal and collective narratives.

Throughout her career, Al Attar exhibited widely in Iraq and internationally, with notable institutional exhibitions at the National Museum of Modern Art in Baghdad, where she also served as director. Her work was included in group shows across the Arab world and Europe, contributing to the visibility of Iraqi art on the global stage. Al Attar’s paintings have appeared at major auction houses such as Christie’s and Bonhams, where they have achieved significant results, underscoring her enduring legacy and the continued interest in her oeuvre among collectors and institutions.

Tragically, Layla Al Attar’s life was cut short in 1993 when she was killed in a U.S. missile attack on her home in Baghdad, an event that brought international attention to her life and work. Today, she is remembered as a pioneering figure in Iraqi art, whose contributions continue to inspire artists and audiences in the region and beyond.