Halla Ayla


Halla Ayla is an Iraqi American artist and self-taught photographer, currently living in San Francisco, CA. She is noted for her activism and is a champion of women's rights and also works to encourage peace and understanding between the Arab world and the West. These causes are reflected in her artwork.

Early life and career

Ayla was born Baghdad, Iraq and grew up in Baghdad and in Beirut, Lebanon. Ayla divided her time between Iraq, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, after which she lived in Europe for 15 years before travelling to the United States in 1991 and finally settling in San Francisco.
She achieved BA Business from Sorbonne University in Paris, as well as MA (Marketing & Business

Work

A distinctive feature of Ayla's artwork is the use of Arab motifs such as calligraphy and the geometric patterns of Arabesque. Much of her work is produced in series, with each series dedicated to a specific geographic region. Her first series was entitled The Arab World Unveiled; the second was The Mysteries of Egypt, and the third, which focused on the Levant was called Everyday Enchantment. A later series was called the Magic of Morocco.
Her work has been exhibited throughout the Arab world, UK, Europe and the US.

Select list of artworks

Ayla's principal exhibitions include: