Early Life and Education Born: Baghdad, Iraq (1954) Widad Al-Orfali's upbringing was steeped in Iraqi culture and intellectual pursuits. Her father, Makki Al-Orfali, held a position as a judge, fostering an environment that valued education and civic engagement. She pursued higher education at the Beirut College for Women before transferring to Queen Alia College in Baghdad. Her formal artistic training took place at the Institute of Art in Baghdad, where she studied under influential artists such as Faiq Hassan, Faraj Abbo, and Ismail al-Shaikhly. She graduated from the institute in…