Istoria: A Retrospective Reimagining Middle Eastern Feminism with Leila Nseir

This retrospective for the late Syrian artist honours Leila Nseir’s legacy and celebrates her contributions to art and feminism.

Nseir’s art was rooted in humanist concerns and feminist thought, addressing themes of conflict, inequality, and poverty; her career was impacted by gender persecution and patriarchal attitudes, both within her close-knit and broader communities. “Nseir’s intentional reinterpretation of historical forms demonstrates a distinctive fusion of intimacy, complexity, and human suffering” says the gallery.

She started with sculpture but deemed it too masculine a medium. She then embarked on a long journey in painting and drawing, but developed oil paint poisoning. Transitioning from oils to acrylics, graphite, pastels, and eventually developing a unique monotype woodcut print technique, she continued to explore and push artistic boundaries.

Nseir’s later pieces delve into the complexities of diaspora, migration, and the interplay between tradition and modernity. She depicted females as a mirror, reflecting Syria and its embodiment of strength, complexity, and intricacy.

To 12 November.

Above: Leila Nseir, Untitled (1986)