Louay Kayyali, born in Aleppo in 1934 and regarded as one of Syria's most influential artists, tackled social issues and everyday scenes in his artwork, blending elements of realism and expressionism. His preferred mediums were oil paint on wood and pencil on paper, characterized by simplicity in color and shape.
After receiving a scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Kayyali studied painting at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome, where he interacted with fellow artists, including Fateh Moudarres. Together, they exhibited at various shows, including the prestigious Venice Biennale in 1960. Upon his return to Syria in 1961, Kayyali taught at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Damascus University, for two years and received great acclaim for his work showcased in exhibitions.
In the mid-1960s, Kayyali began experiencing serious bouts of depression, reflected in his art through dark and mournful charcoal works. This psychological state continued to affect his ability to paint intermittently throughout his life. In 1977, he traveled to Rome in an attempt to rekindle his passion for painting and combat his ongoing depression but returned defeated and struggling with addiction to tranquilizers. Tragically, Kayyali died in 1978 after suffering severe burns, allegedly caused by a cigarette that ignited his bed.
During his lifetime, Kayyali exhibited his art in Rome, Milan, Montreal, Damascus, and Beirut. Posthumously, his work has been featured in numerous retrospective exhibitions and acquired by esteemed public institutions, including Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, the National Museum of Aleppo and Damascus, the Jalanbo Collection, Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah, and the British Museum.
Louay Kayyali's artwork sheds light on the mundane struggles and the social and physical deprivation faced by the masses. Despite his tragically short-lived career, the Aleppo-born artist's paintings offer a glimpse into the lives of the marginalized majority. His distinctive technique of painting on masonite chipboard lends a worn yet resolute quality to his solidly defined figures, often depicted with contemplative, downward gazes. The piece "Woman Sewing" captures a fleeting moment in the ascetic routine of a seamstress stitching clothes.
Kayyali's journey took him to Rome's Academy of Fine Arts in 1956, where he participated in various fairs and represented Syria alongside Fateh Moudarres at the 1960 Venice Biennale. Following the Arab defeat in the Six-Day War with Israel in 1967, Kayyali sank into a deep depression and destroyed a series of politically charged charcoal drawings that symbolized the Arab struggle. Struggling with psychological distress and addiction throughout his thirties, he ceased painting until the early 1970s. Unfortunately, the artist's life ended tragically in a fire at the age of 44, with some speculating it was a suicide.