FAHRELNISSA ZEID

Trained in both Paris and Istanbul, Fahrelnissa Zeid (1901–1991) is best known for her large-scale abstract paintings. Her abstract vocabulary has been described as a synthesis of Islamic, Byzantine, Arab and Persian influences combined with stylistic elements that were developed in Europe during the post-war period.

The exhibition examines the evolution of Zeid’s figurative and abstract work, the themes she pursued and the methods and materials she experimented with during her career. It also highlights the tension in the works and the complex patterns and influences that have dominated Zeid’s practice: dynamism, the desire to represent motion through painting and her obsession with geometrical details.