Baya

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.