User:HareerSulaiman/sandbox

Widad Al-Orfali
Widad Al Orfali is a contemporary modern Arab artist born in 1929 in Baghdad, Iraq. She is a member of the Iraqi Artists Association and Union and is best known for her self-named Gallery Al Orfali Gallery reopened in Amman, Jordan after the destructive effects during the Iraq War. The cross-cultural lands of Al Andalus inspired her most famous works, where oriental designs and patterns dominate her most recent works of art. Al Orfali is also known as a, painter, teacher, and poet and art critic, winning multiple awards from her contributions.

Early Life
Widad Al Orfali was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1929 to an Art loving family that influenced her professions in music, painting, cultural studies and Social Sciences. She lived amongst many European and Middle Eastern countries after marrying Hameed Abbas Al-Azawi, who was the attaché of multiple countries and a diplomat. Her marriage led her to live abroad and constantly move. Al Orfali lived in Amman, New York, Germany, Spain, Sudan, Tunisia, and London. Through her tarvels, she gained influence by the various cultural values she was exposed to, which inspired her developing of new techniques that formed her expertise in artistic craftsmanship areas such as adorning silver work, Andalusia Arts and folklore patterns.

Before becoming a teacher, Al-Orfali worked in Marketing for the dairy firm in Baghdad. As well as, landing a role in the museum of folklore in Baghdad. As a teacher, She taught Art and Drawing in the Al-Sharkiyeh Secondary School for Girls and in two Model kindergartens, Al Kharkh and Al Sadoon. However, she was obligated to stop teaching because of the massive amount of traveling due to her marriage.

Education
Al-Orfali obtained her Bachelors in Sociology in the University of Beirut for Women and Queen Alia College for Girls in her fourth year after she transferred. There, She continued her studies under the instruction and supervision of Khalid Jaddir, Al-Orfali’s who had a massive influence on Al-Orfali’s education in art. She then followed her studies in the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad under the supervision of Ata Sabri, Faeq Hassan, Ismael Al-Shaikhli and Faraj Abu. In Addition, she also taught and gave lectures on Art and Drawing. Her passion for the arts influenced her love for music, which led her to learn the Oud by Salah Al-Qadi and Al-Imam. During her studies in the College of Fine Arts, Al-Orfali’s studies ranged beyond art. From designs and perspective to anatomy for her sculpture work. Major pioneer artists such as Faeq Hassan, who was a major influence for multiple Arab artists, including the well known modern Iraqi British artist and Al-Orfali’s colleague, Dia Al Azawi, taught al-Orfali.

Political Thinker
The Iraq war, which consisted of The United State’s Invasion, created a stressful political climate within the region. It led to a sufferable extenuating aftermath, the overthrow of the dictator Saddam Hussein, which led to the country’s instability, as well as its nation. As an Iraqi herself, Widad Al-Orfali served her gallery in Iraq as a safe haven for citizens emotionally affected by the invasion and bloody circumstance. Her artworks gave ease to her visitors. They reflected upon Baghdad’s splendid architecture and naturalism. Al-Orfali’s hospitality gave her guests a sense of grandeur hope that civilization of Baghdad has not yet been destroyed. Her political values went beyond her country; due to her exhibition dedicated on the Israeli Palestinian conflict, named The Day of the Catastrophe, referring to the 6 day war in 1967.

Exhibitions
1.	1964 La Redout Club - Bonn, Germany.

2.	1966 Friends of Middle East Gallery - New York, USA.

3.	1968 "Tragedy of Palestine ", Amman, Jordan.

4.	1969 "spring in Jordan", Qadis Gallery. Amman, Jordan.

5.	1969 Joint exhibition with Mrs. Murak Makai, by invitation

From the British Parliament - London, England.

6.	1980 "From the Arabic Folklore" - Al Wasiti Gallery.

The first exhibition in her new style - Baghdad. Iraq.

7.	1983 Opened "Orfali Art Gallery " the first private gallery in

Iraq with an exhibition "Cultural Crescents".

8.	1991 Joint exhibition with Arab artists. Amman, Jordan.

9.	1993 "Fantasia 1 ", Orfali Art Gallery. Baghdad, Iraq.

10.	1994 "Fantasia 2 ", Orfali Art Gallery. Amman, Jordan.

11.	1995 "Baghdad My City", Orfali Art Gallery. Baghdad, Iraq.

12.	1996 "One Thousand & One Nights ", Orfali Art Gallery. Amman, Jordan.

13.	1997 "Land Of Dreams 1", Al Manzool Gallery - Abu Dhabi, UAE.

14.	1998 "Land Of Dreams 3", Al Dar Gallery - Dubai, UAE.

15.	1999 Photography of paintings, Al Manzool Gallry - Abu Dhabi, UAE.

16.	1999 By invitation from the Qatari Artists Union - Doha, Qatar.

17.	2000 Opened a new Orfali Art Gallery with a reminiscent exhibition

"50 Tears of Art & Giving" covering her work from 1950 - 2000.

Baghdad, Iraq.

18.	2002 "Land of Dreams 3", Orfali Art Gallery. Baghdad, Iraq.

19.	2004 "Fantasia 3" UNESCO palace. Beirut, Lebanon.

20.	2005 " The Twentieth", Al Manzool Gallery. Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Orfali Art Gallery
Al-Orfali Gallery was established in 1983 in Baghdad, Iraq. However after the war in 2003, The Gallery suffered major devastation, forcing the artist to shut it down under orders of the Iraqi National Congress. However, after her move to Jordan, Al-Orfali reestablished her Gallery in Um-Utheina area in Amman. The Gallery served as an art school and an exhibition to showcase Widad Al-Orfali’s contemporary work and various art exhibitions from England, Italy and New Zealand. As an Art School, The gallery serves as a place that taught multiple art disciplinarians and mediums, ranging from Ceramics, Paintings, and Sculptures. The age required for admissions depends on the program.

Literary Works and Contibutions
As a self proclaimed Poet, Widad Al-Orfali contributed her poems and critiques to Arab publications such as her biography From Realism to Fantasy, that explored her poetry and personal experiences with her instructors and influencers. Also, Al-Orfali contributed her illustrations and poems to Naomi Shihab are the space Between Our Footsteps: Poems and Paintings from The Middle East.

Public Collections
1.	Whitney Museum of American Art

2.	Gugquenfeim, New York

3.	Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

4.	National Gallery, London

5.	Tate Gallery, London

6.	Louvre, Paris

7.	Modern Art Meuseum, Paris

8.	Podin Art Museum, Paris

9.	Elperado, Spain

10.	Church of S. Tome, Toledo

11.	Elegero Home, Spain

12.	Banned Exhibition, Baghdad

13.	Annual Exhibition of Artists, Baghdad

14.	Exhibitions of technical events within and out of Iraq, Baghdad

Categories
1.	1929 Births Iraqi Artist

2.	Iraq

3.	1983 Iraq

4.	Arabic Poetry

5.	Arab Feminist

6.	Contemporary Art

7.	Al Andalus Art

8.	Political Art

9.	Iraq and US War

10.	Folklore

11.	Islamic Art

12.	Institute of Fine Arts Baghdad