Biography

 VISIONS FROM BEIRUT  / Living in Beirut has brought a new reality to my work. This complex and vibrant city intrigues and demands of me a response. The contradictions are everywhere, between the new and the old, the humble and the extravagant. Every extremity of life is alive in Beirut, from the creative to the destructive.A short walk in one of the streets of Beirut offers an endless source of inspiration to draw from, challenging me to explore new ways of expressing this visual wealth.I have tried to convey these vibrations through layers of color glazes, differing textures and collage to reflect the complexities of these transient visions.Leila, Beirut 2010

 Leila Kubba was born and educated in Baghdad; she graduated with a National Diploma of Art and Design from the Manchester School of Art and Architecture in the U.K. and also studied at the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington DC. She has participated in several international exhibitions, including solo exhibitions at Leighton House in London, Magna Gallery in Athens, Atrium of International Monetary Fund and Alif Gallery both in Washington DC, at the Cultural centers of the UAE in Abu Dhabi, and in Amman Jordan, as well as a touring exhibition across the United States. Her works are in private and public collections internationally, including the British Museum. Today she lives and works creatively in Beirut, Lebanon.

Leila Kubba Kawash

 

www.leilakubba.com 


Solo Exhibitions

 

2008        “Perspectives” Gallery Zamaan, Beirut Lebanon

 

2008        “Horizon Lines” Orient Gallery, Amman, Jordan

 

2005        “New Beginnings” Jerusalem Fund, Washington DC.

 

2004-5     “Layered Dreams” Karma, Washington, DC.

 

2004        “From Sumeria to Iraq” National Press Club, Washington DC.

 

2004        Windows of Light” George Mason University, Arlington VA.


2001       “Spoken Shadows” Foundry Gallery, Washington DC.

1
999       “Transcending Time” Leighton House, London, U.K.

1999       “Recent Works” Jerusalem Fund Washington DC

1997       “Dawns and Invocations" Magna Gallery, Athens, Greece.  

                Accompanying catalogue.

1
996       “Diversities and Harmony" Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, U.A.E.


1994      “Crossings" Royal Cultural Center, Amman, Jordan.

1993      “Interpretations in Texture" Two Persons Exhibition

               at the Michael Stone Gallery Washington DC.

1993       “Recent Works" A.D.C. Convention, Washington DC.



1991       “Words, Echoes and Images" Alif Gallery, Washington, DC.
               
 Featured on WETA TV Washington DC.  "Around Town" 

                 File established in archives of National Museum of Women

                 in the Arts, Library and Research Center.

      

1987       “Movements and Traditions" Hilton, Athens, Greece.

       

1984–6    “Through Arab Eyes" Touring Exhibition sponsored by

                 the American Arab affairs council:

                 University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Library, Cupples House Art

                 Gallery, Saint Louis University, Birmingham Public Library,

                 Birmingham, Alabama, The David M Kennedy Center for

                 International Studies, Brigham Young

                 University, Provo, Utah, The Oriental Institute,

                 Chicago, Illinois, The Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts, Minnesota.

 

1986       “Through Arab Eyes” Atrium of International Monetary Fund, Washington DC.

   

1982        “Recent Paintings” Sheraton, Abu Dhabi, UAE, under

                  The patronage of the Alliance Français and the UAE

                  Ministry of Information and Culture.

 

1978        “An Exhibition of Paintings” Hilton, Abu Dhabi, UAE,

                 Under the patronage of the US. Embassy.  
 

 

 

 Group Exhibitions

 

  2010        “Women call for Peace: Global Vistas” Touring Exhibit. United States

 

  2009        “Diaspora” Notre Dame University, Beirut, Lebanon

 

  2006        “Three person show – “Out of Baghdad”, Pomegranate      

                    Gallery, New York, curated by Leila Kubba

 

  2005        “Group show” Marlboro Gallery, MD.

 

  2004       “Group Show” Aya Gallery, London, England

 

  2004       “Visions from Iraq” Darul Salam Center, Washington DC.

 

  2003        “Diversity in Harmony” Alfred Berkowitz Gallery,

                  University of Michigan, Dearborn.

 
 
2002-6     "Breaking the Veils: Women Artists from the Islamic World"

                  Athens, Greece.  Paris, France. Naples, Milan, Lecce in

                  Italy. Valencia, Seville, Almeria in Spain. 

                  Luxembourg. 


 
2001-2      "Strokes of Genius" Brunei Gallery, London, Exeter

                  University, Exeter, Hotbath Galleries, Bath, United

                  Kingdom, Grinnell College Iowa, Chicago, Illinois

 
  2000        “Under One Roof” Foundry Gallery, Washington DC.

 
 
2000        "Dialogues of the Present" United Kingdom. 

                  Hot Bath Gallery, Plymouth Arts center, Plymouth,

                  Pittshanger Manor Gallery, London, University of

                  Brighton Gallery, Brighton.

 

 1998        “All of Us” Foundry Gallery, Washington DC.

 

 1995       “Al Quds” at the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

 

 1994      “Forces of Change” organized by the International     

                Council of Women in the Arts at the National Museum of

                Women, Washington DC. And in Walnut Creek,

               California.

 

 1994      “Group Show” at Michael Stone Gallery and at the Design

                 Center, Washington DC. 

  

 1992     “Students show” At the Corcoran White Walls Gallery.

 

 1990     “Group Show” at the Alif Gallery, Washington DC.


Publications

"Breaking the veils.” The Royal society of Fine Arts, Jordan, and Pan Mediterranean

 Women Artists Network, text by Wijdan Ali.
This is the accompanying catalogue of a group exhibition, Athens, Greece.

 

“Arab voices in the Diaspora” By Leila al Maleh. Cover painting by Leila Kubba.

 

“Wikipedia”

 

Encyclopedia of Arab American Artists by Fayeq Oweis
                                    
" Art in Palestine” By Ismail Shammout
 
"Contemporary Arab Women's Art"
 Dialogues
of the Present
 Women’s
Art Library, Fulham Palace, Bishops Avenue, Fulham, London.
                                     
 
"Strokes of Genius" Contemporary Iraqi Art
  Edited
by Maysaloon Faraj - Saqi books, London.
                                   
 
"Forces of Change" international Council of Women in the Arts
 
Catalogue accompanying exhibit at the National Museum of Women in
 
Washington DC. Painting of Leila used for cover of accompanying book.
                                   
 
"Dawns and Invocations" Magna Gallery, Athens, Greece.
 Accompanying catalogue to exhibition.

 

www.leilakubba.com