Born in Baghdad in 1950, she began her artistic endeavours as a hobby, crafting jewellery, costumes, textiles and woodwork, all inspired by Iraq's ancient cultural history. Later, when some of her jewellery was acquired by museums, she began to see her work as a potential career.[2]
Although she graduated from the University of Baghdad, she did not study arts[3] and is a self-taught artist.[4]
She aims to faithfully reproduce ancient objects, thereby preserving Iraq's heritage.[5] Firyal's latest collection, Postcards from Mesopotamia, is inspired by her reaction to the tragic looting of the Museum of Baghdad in 2003.[6]
She has participated in both solo and group exhibitions, in London and in the Persian Gulf.[7]
Work
She has written one novel,[8] and has also published a book with a collection of her poetry and paintings.[9] Much of her work is inspired by poetry. Her later paintings incorporates Arabic script, over which she has mastery demonstrates a sincerity to Arab civilization especially the Babylonian and Sumerian civilizations.[10] Her artworks have inspired the poetry of several Arabic poets including Laoy Taha[11] and Mahmoud Darwish.[12]
Solo exhibitions
1988 – The Gallery, Intercontinental Hotel, Bahrain. Organized by the Ministry of Information
1990 – Kufa Gallery, London, UK organized by Ross Issa
1993- The Artist Studio, London, UK
1997- The Artist Studio, London, UK
2006- Darlelbareh Gallery, Manama, Bahrain
2008- Green Art Gallery Dubai "Postcards from Mesopotamia"
2009- The Memory of the place Gallery " When the Word Turns into Fragrant Ray of Light " Manama Bahrain
Joint exhibitions
1987 – Bahrain Art Society Annual Exhibition, Bahrain
1988 – Alfan Gallery, Bahrain
1988 – Bahrain Art Society Annual Exhibition, Bahrain
1989 – Print making annual Exhibition London UK
1991 – Iraqi Artist Society Exhibition at Gallery 4, London, UK
1991 – Iraqi Artists at Kufa Gallery, London, UK
1992 – Arab Women Artists by the General Union of Palestinian Women
1992 – Iraqi Artist Society at Camden Town Lock, London, UK
1992 – Iraqi Women's Festival of Culture, Kufa Gallery, London, UK
1993 – Iraqi Artists Society at Gallery 4, London, UK
1993 – Group of International Artists, London, UK. Organized by Eastern Art Report
1993 – Group Exhibition, Imperial College, London, UK
1994 – Group Exhibition, Aramco, Inmaa Gallery, Saudi Arabia
1995 – Arab Fine Art Exhibition, London, UK. Organized by Arab-British Chambers of Commerce
1995 – “The World’s Women On-line Electronic Ballet” - Internet exhibition at the UN conference, Beijing, China
1995 – Arab Women Artists in London, Saidy Gallery, London, UK
1996 – Women Artists of the Islamic World, Islington Museum Gallery, London, UK
1997 – Group Exhibition at Saudi Arabian Art Gallery
1998 – Working for hotels’ project in the Persian Gulf
1998 – Group Exhibition “Selection from Arab Contemporary Art”, Bahrain
2001 – “Dialogue of the present” Groups of 18 Arab women artists was toured exhibition from January 1999 to January 2001, covering Bath, Plymouth, London (SOAS, Brunei Gallery) and Brighton University, UK
2008-09 Iraq Speaks to the Present, British Museum, UK[13]
2009 - "Babylon Myth and Reality" British Museum London 2008-2009
