About Baya
Lived 1931 – 1998 (aged 66). Baya was an Algerian and French painter.
Baya Mahieddine (; born Fatima Haddad []; 12 December 1931 – 9 November 1998) was an Algerian painter and, to a lesser extent, ceramist. While she did not identify her work as belonging to a particular art genre, critics have classified her paintings as surrealist, primitive, naïve, and modern. She was an entirely self-taught artist.
Life and career Born in 1931 in Fort de l'Eau (today's Bordj El Kiffan), Baya was orphaned by the age of five. When she was eleven, Marguerite Caminat, a French artist and collector residing in Algiers, stepped in as her protector, although the relationship is subject to dispute, with some sources stating that Baya was responsible for completing household duties for Caminat, much like a servant. Caminat furnished her with a residence, art supplies, and words of support for her art.
She continued to work until her death in Blida, Algeria on 9 November 1998.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Baya's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Baya?
Algerian painter (1931-1998)
When was Baya born?
Baya was born on 12 December 1931 in Bordj El Kiffan.
When did Baya die?
Baya died on 9 November 1998 in Blida.
What was Baya's occupation?
Baya was a painter.
What nationality was Baya?
Baya was Algerian and French.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Baya. https://biography.guide/baya/
MLA: "Baya." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/baya/.
Chicago: "Baya." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/baya/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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