Thuraya Al-Baqsami (born 1951) is a Kuwaiti artist, writer, and printmaker. She is considered
one of the pioneers of contemporary art in the Gulf region. She studied art and literature at Surikov University in Moscow from 1974 to 1981, and has since held over 60 exhibitions around the world. Her work is known for its exploration of themes of identity, gender,and the human condition.
Al-Baqsami’s work has been influenced by her own experiences as a woman living in the Gulf region. In particular the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 had a profound impact on her work. Her book “Cellar Candles” (1993),a collection of short stories about the war,was awarded the Kuwaiti State Prize for Literature.
