ArtDayME: Fahrelnissa Zeid was a pioneering Turkish-Jordanian artist, among the first women to study at Istanbul’s Academy of Fine Arts. She traveled extensively in Europe in the 1920s and studied under cubist Roger Bissière in Paris. After joining the progressive D Grubu in Turkey, she moved to London in 1946 and embraced abstraction, gaining acclaim with her dynamic, colorful compositions inspired by Kandinsky’s ideas of spiritual expression in art. Zeid was the first female artist to hold a solo exhibition at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts in 1954 and exhibited regularly at prestigious venues including the Salon des Réalités Nouvelles and galleries run by prominent figures like Colette Allendy. In the 1960s, she innovated with Paléokrystalos—sculptural works combining painted animal bones with resin and colored light. She taught in Amman in her later years.

Fahrelnissa Zeid passed away on September 5, 1991, but her artistic legacy remains vibrant and influential. Her works continue to hold a distinguished place in the global art market, firmly establishing her as one of the most prominent and best-selling female artists from the Middle East. The significance and impact of her art have only grown since her passing, inspiring new generations of artists worldwide.

Here, you can view some of the enduring works of this remarkable artist.