Colorful Street Scene with Balconies and Figures, 1980

Suzanne Al-Cheikhli (1920–2008) was a French-born artist who became a significant figure in Iraq's art scene. After graduating from the Institute of Applied Arts in Paris in 1940, she married Iraqi artist Ismail Al-Cheikhli in the early 1950s and relocated to Baghdad, where she spent the remainder of her life. ([ibrahimicollection.com](https://www.ibrahimicollection.com/node/66?utm_source=openai))

Al-Cheikhli's work is characterized by simplified human figures set against mosaic-like backgrounds, a style influenced by Hafidh Droubi. She employed both watercolors on paper and oil on canvas, using vibrant colors and loose brushstrokes to depict Iraqi cultural heritage, including traditional houses, Baghdad's alleyways, and daily life scenes. ([site.dafbeirut.org](https://site.dafbeirut.org/en/suzanne-al-cheikhli?utm_source=openai))

Throughout her career, Al-Cheikhli was an active member of the Iraqi art community. She joined the Pioneers Group in 1953, participating in all its exhibitions until 1983. Notable exhibitions include the National Geographic Institute in Paris in 1958, the 15th exhibition of the Iraqi Fine Artists Association in 1973, and "From Paris to Baghdad" at Al-Riwaq Gallery in Baghdad in 1983. Her works continued to be showcased posthumously, such as in the 2012 exhibition "Fifty Years of Love for France and Iraq" at the French Institute in Baghdad. ([ibrahimicollection.com](https://www.ibrahimicollection.com/node/66?utm_source=openai))