“Iraqi Chronicles: Six Decades of Art”, Works by Faisel Laibi Sahi

About the Exbhibition

A solo Presentation by Faisel Laibi Sahi

Date: 19 October – 15 December 2021
Catalog: 

al markhiya gallery is proud to present this one person exhibition by master Iraqi artist, Faisel Laibi Sahi.

Born in the port city of Basra in Iraq, Sahi’s roots are deeply founded in art, his work is a critical reflection on the politics and culture of Iraq.  As a master draftsman, his drawings and vibrant paintings clearly reflect an important connection to his heritage.  His work is informed in aspects of Mesopotamian mythology, Islamic art, and archaic Arabic literature.

Reflecting on Iraqi social life, his paintings are a combination of reality and fantasy, interweaving form aesthetics, and context.  Faisel Laibi Sahi has lived and worked in London since 1991 with his wife, author/composer Aicha Khellaf.


Faisel Laibi Sahi graduated from Baghdad’s Institute of Fine Arts at Baghdad University in 1970. His first exhibition was at the Basra Cultural Centre gallery in Iraq in 1966, followed by an exhibition in 1972 at the Iraqi Artist Society in Baghdad.

He attended and graduated from Paris’ École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts in 1981, and Université de la Sorbonne – where he studied the history of art.  He lived in Florence Italy from 1984 – 1988, then moved to Annaba Algeria where he taught art at the École de Beaux Arts de Skikda, and then in 1991 he relocated to London.  At that time he published the London-based satirical newspaper, Al Mejrasha from 1992 – 2002.  For the past three decades he has lived in London, yet he continues to draw inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of pre-Islamic Mesopotamian civilisations, specifically, Sumeria, Babylon, and Assyria. He lives and works in London.

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Coffee Shop
Acrylic on Canvas
40 x 50 cm
2020

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Juice Seller
Acrylic on Canvas
40 x 50 cm
2020

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Fishmonger
Acrylic on canvas
40 x 50 cm
2020

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Photographer
Acrylic on Canvas
40 x 50 cm
2020

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Sweets Seller
Acrylic on Canvas
40 x 50 cm
2020

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Kubba Seller
Acrylic on Canvas
40 x 50 cm
2020

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Worker
Acrylic on canvas
40 x 50 cm
2020

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The War
Oil on Canvas
65 x 92 cm
1982

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Iraqi Apocalypse Series
Acrylic on Canvas
40 x 45 cm
2010

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Iraqi Apocalypse Series
Acrylic on Canvas
40 x 45 cm
2010

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Iraqi Apocalypse Series
Acrylic on Canvas
40 x 45 cm
2010

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Iraqi Apocalypse Series
Acrylic on Canvas
40 x 45 cm
2010

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Iraqi Apocalypse Series
Acrylic on Canvas
40 x 45 cm
2010

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Iraqi Apocalypse Series
Acrylic on Canvas
40 x 45 cm
2010

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The War
Oil on Canvas
72 x 92 cm
1983

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Game
Oil on Canvas
100 x 100 cm
1988

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Iraqi Still Life
Acrylic on Canvas
40 x 30 cm
1995

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Uprising 6
Ink on Paper
11 x 13 cm
1981

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Uprising 5
Ink on Paper
11 x 13 cm
1981

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Uprising 4
Ink on Paper
19 x 20 cm
1981

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Uprising 1
Ink on Paper
11 x 14  cm
1981

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Uprising 3
Ink on Paper
11 x 13 cm
1981

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Honour Crime Series
Ink on Paper
21 x 29 cm
2007

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Honour Crime Series
Ink on Paper
21 x 29 cm
2007

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Honour Crime Series
Ink on Paper
21 x 29 cm
2007

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Honour Crime Series
Ink on Paper
21 x 29 cm
2007

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Honour Crime Series
Ink on Paper
21 x 29 cm
2007

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Honour Crime Series
Ink on Paper
21 x 29 cm
2007

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Girl (Portrait)
Acrylic on Canvas
13 x 18 cm
2010

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Jordanian Young Man (portrait)
Watercolour on Paper
15 x 19 cm

1974

FAisel Laibi Sahi
Algerian Girl (Portrait)
Watercolour on Paper
12 x 16 cm
1990

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Algerian Young Man (Portrait)
Watercolour on Paper
12 x 16 cm
1990

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Iraqi Girl (Portrait)
Watercolour on Paper
21 x 29 cm
1969

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Girl (Portrait)
Acrylic on Canvas
22 x 30 cm
2010

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Poet Hussain Hussain
Watercolour on Paper
20 x 30 cm
1969

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Iraqi Girl (Portrait)
Watercolour on Paper
21 x 27 cm
1969

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Al-Baghdadi
Acrylic on Canvas
127 x 145 cm
2016

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Butcher
Acrylic on Canvas
150 x 205 cm
2020

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Fruits Seller
Acrylic on Canvas
420 x 210 cm
2017

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Master and His Servant
Acrylic on Canvas
127 x 180 cm
2016

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Iraqi Still Life
Acrylic on Canvas
61 x 61 cm
1999

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Iraqi Still Life
Acrylic on Canvas
61 x 61 cm
1999

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Demonstration
Acrylic on thick paper
50 x 345 cm

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Uprising 2
Ink on Paper
19 x 20 cm
1981

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Last Supper
Ink on Paper
29 x 21 cm
1975

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Iraqi Girl (portrait)
Watercolour on Paper
20 x 23 cm
1969

Faisel Laibi Sahi
The Freedom
Watercolour on Paper
20 x 24 cm
1975

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Extermination Palace
Watercolour on Paper
18 x 24 cm
1975

Faisel Laibi Sahi
Face 1
Ink on Paper
21 x 23 cm
1998

Faisel Liabi Sahi
Face 2
Ink on Paper
21 x 23 cm
1998

Faisel Liabi Sahi
Face 3
Ink on Paper
21 x 23 cm
1998

Faisel Liabi Sahi
Face 4
Ink on Paper
21 x 23 cm
1998

Faisel Liabi Sahi
Face 5
Ink on Paper
21 x 23 cm
1998

Faisel Liabi Sahi
Face 6
Ink on Paper
21 x 23 cm
1998

Faisel Liabi Sahi
Sanctions Time 1
Ink on Paper
21 x 29 cm
1991

Faisel Liabi Sahi
Sanctions Time 2
Ink on Paper
21 x 29 cm
1991

Faisel Liabi Sahi
Sanctions Time 6
Ink on Paper
21 x 29 cm
1991

Faisel Liabi Sahi
Sanctions Time 3
Ink on Paper
21 x 29 cm
1991

Faisel Liabi Sahi
Sanctions Time 4
Ink on Paper
21 x 29 cm
1997

Faisel Liabi Sahi
Sanctions Time 6
Ink on Paper
21 x 29 cm
1997

Faisel Liabi Sahi
The War
Mixed Media
100 x 100 cm
1997

Faisel Liabi Sahi
Injured Horses
Ink on Paper
18 x 21 cm
1993

Faisel Liabi Sahi
Injured Horse 2
Ink on Paper
18 x 21 cm
1998

Faisel Liabi Sahi
Injured Horse 1
Ink on Paper
29 x 21 cm
1993