Iqbal Karesly (1925-1969) this self-taught Syrian artist had a beautiful artistic career, yet a short life. Karesly did not study art, she get married at the age of 15. She travelled from place to place in Syria first along with her father who was a teacher, and then along with her husband to settle for many years in Palmyra. In each step of her itinerary life, she painted landscapes, still lifes and portraits. Very busy with her family life, she decided to study art by correspondence in an art academy in Cairo, Egypt, during 2 years (1956-1958).

Karesly was the very first woman who had a solo exhibition in Syria, at “International Modern Art Gallery”, the first art gallery founded in Damascus. She died in 1969 in Damascus because of chronic lead poisoning ‒ a high content of lead used to be a contingent of paint colors and pigments at that time. She had the courage to assume her passion under difficult circumstances and to go ahead despite social divergences toward Art.

Source: Syria.Art