Bastawi Baghdadi

Sudan, b.1927-2007

Painter, pedagogue and pioneer Sudanese artist, Bastawi Baghdadi studied design at the Gordon Memorial College in Khartoum, graduating in 1946, and continued his art training at Goldsmith College at University of London specializing in painting and art education (1946-1950).  He continued his studies at the Pratt Institute in New York (1962).  In Khartoum, he was head of School of Fine and Applied Arts (1957-65), Principal of the College of Fine and Applied Arts (1971-76) and Principal of the Institute of Music and Drama (1982-83) and Cultural Attache in Moscow (1965-68).Baghdadi addresses the issue of artistic identity by depicting Sudanese scenery and characters in a personal stylized manner, mixing burlap collages with oils.