Maryam Yousif's Vibrant 'Habibti' Ceramics Blend Iraqi Heritage with Bay Area Funk Art

Iraqi-American artist Maryam Yousif, born in Baghdad and now based in San Francisco, creates vibrant ceramic sculptures inspired by the 20th-century funk art movement of the Bay Area and the visual language of her birth country. Her signature 'Habibti' figures, named after the Arabic endearment for 'sweetheart' or 'darling,' feature dresses adorned with flowers, landscapes, and other shapes. Many of these works were recently exhibited in her solo show 'Above Earth, Under The Rays of the Sun' at The Pit gallery in Los Angeles, a title derived from a curse tablet found in the Assyrian queens' tombs at Nimrud. Yousif's practice is deeply rooted in historical research, particularly of Mesopotamia, as she explores themes of migration, memory, and the symbolic nature of objects. She notes that clay connects us to the past and has opened her interest in historical research. Her upcoming projects include a solo exhibition at Rebecca Camacho Presents in San Francisco in January, and a commissioned work titled 'Midrib' for the exhibition 'Ancient Queenship: Art, Power, and Presence' at the Getty Villa starting in February. Yousif's work merges ancient cultural heritage with contemporary playfulness, offering a unique perspective on identity and belonging.