Orphaned at an early age, self-taught artist Baya (Mahieddine), born Fatima Haddad, had a profound connection to her Algerian heritage and culture. From the age of 11, her practice was supported and encouraged by art collector and mentor Marguerite Caminat. At the age of 16, she was invited to exhibit her work in Paris, where she was celebrated by Surrealist French artists such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Drawing from the landscapes of her hometown, Baya developed her own artistic language, depicting women, animals (or animal-like creatures), vegetation and musical instruments in a lush and colourful tapestry of everyday life.