Born in Iraq 1945, began painting at an early age. He developed a rich portfolio which later on qualified him to the Academy of Fine Arts in Baghdad. In 1966, Al Sheikh graduated, and later on travelled abroad to complete his art studies where he earned an M.A degree in Graphic Arts. By 1970, Al Sheikh completed his PhD in Science of Art from The Union Research Institute in Moscow.

In additional to being an artist, Yahya Alsheikh has worked as a designer, illustrator, and Art Professor since 1972. From 1977 until now he has lived in several countries like Russia, Syria, Libya, Jordan, and finally he settled in Norway. Since 1972, Al Sheikh held 19 solo exhibitions, show casing his graphic works and paintings in Baghdad, Moscow, Tripoli, Muscat, Trondheim (Norway), London, Paris.

Al Sheikh also participated in many international exhibitions in Lubiana, Krakow, Warsaw, Bionic Aires. He is member of: Iraqi Society, Norwegian Artists Union, City of Art / Paris, Tunisian Artist Union and Euman.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1960.

BA Painting, Academy of Fine Arts, Baghdad, 1988.

Memberships:

• Iraqi Artists Association
• International Association of Fine Arts (UNESCO)
• Canadian Union of Iraqi Artists
• Propeller Centre for the Visual Art (Canada)

Awards:

• Recognition Prize, First Youth Show, 1985
• Second Prize, Al-Wasiti Festival, 1987
• Faiq Hassan Silver Prize, 1987
• Referee Award, International Biennale, Cairo, 1988
• First Prize, Ain Gallery, Amman, Jordan, 1994

Artwork in private collections: Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, South Africa, Tunisia, Sweden, USA, Germany, London, Spain, France, Portugal.

Artwork in public collections: Darat al-Funoun, Amman, National Museum of Modern Art, Baghdad.

Lives and works in Canada.

SSE:

2009 Gallery Hittite, Toronto

2005 Al Riwaq Art Gallery, Bahrain

2004 Dar-Alanda Gallery, Amman

2002, 1996 Hewar Gallery, Baghdad

1998 French Cultural Center, Baghdad

1997 Dar Al Mashriq Gallery, Jordan

1994 Nadhar Art Gallery

1992 National Museum of Modern Art

SGE:

2010

• “My Homeland” Objects Exhibition for Seven Iraqi Artists, Art Sawa Gallery, Dubai
• “Beyond the War” Exhibition for Seven Iraqi Artist, Millan Heller Gallery, New York

2009 Modern Art in the Iraq, Wallach Gallery, Columbia University, New York

2008 Iraqi Artists in Exile, Museum of the Station, Houston, Texas

2005-2007 Art Books Exhibition for Iraqi Modern Artists, Texas University Gallery, Minnesota University Gallery, Art Books Center, New York

2006 Iraqi Modern Art, Montparnasse Museum, Paris

2003 

• “Now, Before, After” Deluxe Galley, London
• Five Iraqi Contemporary Artists, Green Art Gallery, Dubai
• “The Broken Letter” Arab Contemporary Artists, Kunst Gallery, Darmstadt, Germany

2002 Seven Iraqi Artists, Al Bareh Gallery, Bahrain

2002 Contemporary Perspective for Arab Art, Arab World Institute, Paris

2001 Iraqi Contemporary Art, China International Museum, China

2000

• Iraqi Contemporary Art, Tunis
• Iraqi Contemporary Art, Modern Art Museum, Caracas, Venezuela
• Seven Iraqi Artists from Embargo Generation, Arab World Institute, Paris
• Mesopotamia, Dar Al Funoun, Amman

1999

• Iraqi Graphic, Dar Al Funoun, Amman
• 3rd Egyptian International Print Triennial, Egypt

1998, 1992 Muhres International Exhibition, Tunis

1997 Four Iraqi Artists, Cultural House of Foreigners, Shambela Art Gallery, Denmark

1994 Chair, Arab Contemporary Artists, Dar Al Funoun, Amman