Baya

A sumptuously illustrated monograph showcasing the work of the groundbreaking Algerian artist Baya (Mahieddine).Forging an artistic and cultural identity in newly independent Algeria, Baya’s geometric patterns and bold colours were rooted in the creative and natural surroundings of her homeland, as well as its storytelling and musical traditions. Throughout her life, she defied attempts to categorise her work in terms like ‘surrealist’ or ‘naive’, instead claiming her distinctly modernist approach as simply ‘Baya-ism’. Baya’s work has been influential on generations of international artists and thinkers, including Pablo Picasso and André Breton. This beautiful book shines a spotlight on her practice, showcasing her extraordinary work on its own terms. Published to accompany the UK’s first ever solo exhibition on the artist, and featuring images of her vivid gouache watercolours, alongside unique ceramic sculptures, it builds on new research to explore the complexity and experimentation at the heart of this hugely significant artist’s career.