AyaArtConsultancy holds a small but significant collection of art related books, journals and catalogues, some of which are available for sale.  Through years of contact with artists, extensive research and interviews, AAC with the assistance of iNCiA has been able to compile extensive information about artists including CVs, interviews, publications, visuals (slides, photographs, videos, digitals) in an expanding archive which has proven to be a vital source of reference for scholars, academicians and enthusiasts with a general interest in the field.  Artists Biographies (far below) are listed in alphabetical order.

Strokes of Genius: Contemporary Iraqi Art 
Edited by Maysaloun Faraj
Published by Saqi Books 2001 
£22.50 UKP 
For detailed information see iNCiA

Iraq: The Land And The People
Nadhim Ramzi
£14.50 UKP

Issam El-Said: Artist and Scholar
Published by Issam El-Said Foundation, 1989
ISBN 0951541706
Book Dimensions: 30.5x29cm
Art directed and designed by Samir Chorbachi
£35.00 UKP 

In both English and Arabic.  Containing over a hundred colour plates illustrating El-Said's work, including many of his own paintings and drawings, and with written contributions from members of his family and colleagues in the art world, this book is a celebration of Issam El-Said's life and art.  Front cover (English)

Issam El-Said: Artist and Scholar
Back cover (Arabic)

Geometric Concepts in Islamic Art
Issam El-Said & Ayse Parman
Published by the World of Islam Festival Trust, 1976
ISBN 0905035038
Book Dimensions: 30.5x25cm
£50.00 UKP 

This study traces man's approach to measurement, outlines the geometric concepts of design and shows how they apply to different fields of Islamic art.

Islamic Art and Architecture: The System of Geometric Design
Issam El-Said
Edited by Tarek El-Bouri & Keith Critchlow
Published by Garnet Publishing Limited, 1993
ISBN 1873938454
Book Dimensions: 35x25cm
£50.00 UKP

Maqamat al-Hariri
(cover detail)
The facsimile reproduction of this important Arabic literary masterpiece contains 334 pages 38x27cm with 101 miniature illustrations by Al-Wasiti, Iraq.  This edition is presented in a high quality leather bound silk lined presentation slip case.  The manuscript is accompanied by a separate volume containing an introductory three-part essay by Oleg Grabar, Professor of Islamic Art, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, USA.  The essay gives firstly, the historical and cultural setting; secondly, a description of the illustrations and their relationship to the text and thirdly and outline of comparative elements and the importance of the manuscript.  It is printed in English, French, German and Arabic. 

Eastern Art Report
Eastern Art Report, founded in 1989, is an international magazine focused on the arts of Asia and Africa and the arts practiced by the people of Asian and African origin in North America, Europe and elsewhere.  

The Middle East in London
Published 10 times a year by Eastern Art Report on behalf of the London Middle East Institute LMEI, School of Oriental and African Studies, university of London.
Publishers Sajid Rizvi and Shirley Rizvi info@eargroup.com
www.eapgroup.com
Cover of May 2005 Issue
UK £3.00

Canvas
Art and Culture from the Middle East and Arab World 
Cover of Issue No. 4
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief: Ali Khadra 
E mail@mixed-media.com

This section contains biographical notes on artists whose works are available at ayagallery or whose works have been featured through the ayagallery Exhibitions programes.  This is by no means conclusive as we continue to compile further data through ongoing research.  Hence, it should perhaps be noted that the relative length of artists' biographies does not necessarily imply the degree of their importance.  Furthermore, the information presented is to the best of our knowledge and we apologise for any discrepancies or unintentional errors that may have occured and we would highly appreciate being notified.  To simplify the reader's search for individual artists, the names are listed in last name alphabetical order.  For abbreviations used throughout see bottom of page.

Born Kadr Karam, Kurdistan, Iraq, 1973.  Studied at the Institute of Fine Art, Mosul, 1990-1; Diploma Fine Arts, Institute of Fine Arts, Sulaymannia, 1995.  Other activities include: writing poetry, published in Watan al-Shams newspaper; Regay Kurdistan and articles covering various topics and interviews, Raman journal, Erbil e.g. Post Modernisim; poet Hashim Saraj; art critic Mohammed Arif.  Initiated a Cultural and Art Centre in Kurdistan, which also encompasses a 3m tall stone sculpture by Adalet, 1998.  Lectures in Fine Arts.  Lives and works in Hull, England.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1960.  BA Painting, IFA, 1982; AFA, 1987 and CHK Graphic Design, Constantijn Huygens Academy, Kampen, Netherlands, 2000.  Artist and graphic designer whose most recent designs include this book with all it's accompanying publicity material.  Memberships: Association of Dutch Designers (BNO); Union of Dutch Plastic Artists (BBK); SIPA. Lives and works in Amersfoort, Netherlands.

Born in Kerbala, Iraq, 1935, Hamid al-Attar graduated with a degree in Law, 1955.  Subsequently, Al-Attar studied painting in Baghdad, West Berlin and Cairo where he achieved a High Diploma in Art Criticism from Cairo University.  He was a founding member of the Society of Iraqi Plastic Art which was established in 1956 and a Honorary Guest of the Union of Fine Arts in Damascus, Syria, where he exhibited at the Peoples' Hall in 1983. Al-Attar was awarded the Honorary Prize of the Cagne-sur-Mer International Festival in France.  The artist has participated in the main exhibitions organised by the Union of Iraqi Artists since its inauguration as well as numerous important exhibitions outside Iraq including the groundbreaking touring exhibitiion Strokes of Genius: Contemporary Iraqi Art (UK & USA 2000-03).  Lives in the UK.

Born Missan, Iraq, 1941.  Degree Painting, IFA; Higher Diploma, Acadamey of Fine Arts, Rome, Italy.  Has taught art for twenty years and worked as a designer in Jordan.  His work is in private and public collections including the NMMA and Baghdad International Airport.  He lives and works in the Netherlands.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1924.  Graduate Royal College of Medicine, Baghdad, 1948; Diploma Medical Rehabilitation, New York University-Bellevue Medical Centre, 1958.  Studied classic music (violin), IFA, 1941-5.  Lecturer of 'Anatomy for Artists' at IFA and AFA, 1959-68. Memberships: Société Primitive, 1950; Iraqi Symphony Orchestra, 1940s; International Rehabilitation Medical Association of which he was also the founder and head; Iraqi Union of Medical Professions; IAA/AIAP (UNESCO).  Awards: Golden Medal, Iraqi Symphony Orchestra Golden Jubilee, Iraqi Ministry of Culture and Information; Silver Medal, SIPA Silver Jubilee, 1982.  Lives in Baghdad, Iraq.

Born Khaneqin, Iraq, 1939.  Degree Fine Arts, IFA, 1961.  Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, 1970.  Awards: Plastic Art, Baghdad, 1997; First Prize, Baghdad International Fair, 1988; Second Prize, International Poster Exhibition, Paris, 1982; Merit Award, Arab Biennial, 1980.  Memberships: The Innovationists; SIPA.  Took part in many exhibitions in Iraq and abroad.  Held joint exhibitions with fellow aritsts Sa'di al-Kabi and Mohammed Muhriddin.  Lives and works in Baghdad.

Born Nassiriya, Iraq, 1955.  BA Painting (Honours), IFA, 1978.  Held the post of Art Inspector and Art Consultant, Ministry of Education, Iraq, 1979-92.  Lived and taught art in the Marshes of the South of Iraq, 1978-81.  Awards: 1st Prize for Youth, Baghdad, 1983; Honorary Award and 2nd Prize, Al-Wassity Festival, Baghdad, 1983-5; Gold Medal, UIA; Honorary Award, Cinema and Theatre.  Memberships: UIA, IAA/AIAP (UNESCO) and SIPA.  Has lived in London since 1999.

Born Mosul, Iraq, 1941.  Degree Painting, IFA, 1965.  Joined a two years course in graphics in Lisbon, 1967-8.  Awards: Bronze Medal, Cairo, 1987; Honorary Award, Germany; Recognition Award, Arab-Spanish League, Baghdad; Golden Sail Award, Kuwait.  Memberships: The Pioneers, took part in all their exhibitions.  Participated in Iraqi graphic exhibitions in Baghdad, Germany and London.  Held several one man shows in Baghdad, Lisbon, Kuwait and Beirut.  Lives and works in Baghdad where he teaches at IFA.

Born Mosul, Iraq, 1930.  Graduated Academy of Fine Arts, Rome, 1965; IFA, 1961.  Fellow member of the Pioneers and a member of SIPA and UIA.  Received numerous awards including: Dante Award, 1962; Second Prize, Rome Art Competition, Italy, 1962.  Participated in the national exhibitions that took place in and out of Iraq.  Organised numerous solo-exhibitions in 1968/70/72/73/74/75 and 1976.  He lives and works in Baghdad.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1914.  One of the leading figures in contemporary Iraqi art.  Studied art in Rome and returned to Iraq in 1936.  Established the first free atelier in Baghdad, 1942.  Memberships: Founding member The Impressionists, 1953; AFS and took part in all their exhibitions: 1945, 43, 42 and 41.  Graduated from Goldsmith College, London, 1950.  Participated in the Avicenna exhibition in Baghdad in 1952.  Chaired SIPA for six years and was the Dean of AFA for six years.  Took part in numerous Iraqi art exhibitions in Europe, 1964.  Received Honorary Awards from UIA and SIPA.  Artworks in private and public collections including: ministries, universities and museums worldwide.

Born California, USA, 1955.  BSc Architecture, College of Architectural Engineering, Baghdad University, 1978; ceramic studies, ILEA, London.  Awards: Highly Commended Daler & Rowney, London, 1995; First Prize, Ministry of Education, Baghdad, 1983; First Prize, Architectural Dept., Baghdad University, 1973-8; Honourable Mention, AFA, 1973-5; First Prize, Iraqi History Museum, 1970.  Memberships: Crafts Potters Association, 1992; London Potters, 1991; Women's Art Library, 1994; National Artists Association; Artist Newsletter; Society of Fulham Artists; Society of Iraqi Artists in Britain; EU-MAN, Finland.  Artwork in private collections worldwide including: HRH Prince of Wales; Sir Wilfred Thesiger as well as public collections including:  National Museum for Women in the Arts, Washington, USA; British Museum, London; United Nations, Geneva; The Wereldmuseum, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.  Has lived and worked in London since 1982.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1964.  BA Fine Arts, IFA and AFA, 1997.  Awards: Sixth Al-Wasiti Festival, 1987; National Committee for CIA, 1993 and the Third Prize, Festival of CIA, Baghdad, 1996.  Memberships: SIPA; UIA.  Lives and works in Baghdad, Iraq.

Born Basra, Iraq, 1937.  Graduated from IFA, 1961 and embarked on a career in teaching ceramics whilst continuing to paint.  Higher Degree in ceramics, Limoges National Institute of Art, France, 1982.  Memberships: SIPA; The Innovationists; Founding member UIA.  Worked as a consultant in the field of Industrial Ceramics, Baghdad.  Author of The Techniques of Ceramic Art which is standard text on the subject in Iraq.  Retired from teaching in 1986, dedicating himself to art.  Artwork in public and private collections worldwide.  Lives and works in Amman, Jordan.

Born Baghdad, Iraq.  Member of SIPA and UIA.  Held numerous solo exhibitions in Iraq and out including Spain and France. Participated in numerous exhibition including: Iraqi Women Artists; Youth Shows, Baghdad.  Implemented artworks inspired by the poetry of Beder Shaker al-Sayab, 1973; Buland al-Hadery and Abdul Razzaq Abdul Wahid, 1984.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1924.  Diploma, IFA; continued studies in Paris, 1947.  Painter and art critic; published several studies on art and while in Paris, published the cultural magazine Ishtar.  Memberships: SIPA; UIA.  Worked as Supervisor of Art Affairs, Directorate of Arts at the Ministry of Information, Baghdad, 1980.  Took part in the exhibitions of the AFS in 1942 and 1945 as well as those held by The One Dimension, 1971. Held his first one-man show in 1950.  Exhibited in Iraq and many countries worldwide.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1935.  Holds a PhD in Graphic Design.  Head of the Design Department at AFA.  Also, teaches at IFA and the Engineering College, Baghdad University.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1914.  Graduated Acadamie Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Paris, 1938.  Founded the Painting Department at IFA, 1939-40 and The Pioneers, 1950 as well as co-founding The Corner Group.  Participated in all the PG's exhibitions until 1967, founded and took part in its first exhibition.  Memberships: SIPA.  Participated in exhibitions organised by AFS and SIPA, 1943, 46.  Participated in the Avicenna Exhibition, Baghdad, 1952.  Organised a number of one-man exhibitions, Baghdad, 1962, 1967 and 1971.  Participated in many national exhibitions outside Iraq.

Born Basra, Iraq, 1939. BA Painting, IFA, 1960; Degree Painting, Academy of Fine Arts, Rome, 1980.  Awards: First Prize, Costume and Stage Design, 1972.  Translated a number of art related books.  Designed theatrical costumes and set stages in Basra and Baghdad.  Held numerous solo exhibitions in Basra and Baghdad and participated in many group exhibitions including: Al-Wasiti Festival, Baghdad, 1984; First Arab Biennial, Baghdad, 1974 and the Kuwait Biennial, 1973. 

Born Baghdad, Iraqi, 1925.  Graduated from the Acadamie Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Paris, 1958.  Founding member of BGMA.  Organised solo exhibitions in 1969, 65, 64 and 62 as well as numerous exhibitions in and outside Iraq.  Member of SIPA and UIA.  National commissions include the Rotating Water Fountain, Abu Nouas Street; Al-Kindi Statue, Muntezeh al-Wihdeh and The Torture of Christ, Saint Thomas Church, Baghdad.  He is a sculpture and a painter.

Born Imara, Iraq, 1948.  Graduated from IFA; studied sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts, Rome, Italy and took courses in decoration.  Held numerous solo exhibitions and participated in most of the exhibitions organised by SIPA. Lives and works in Italy.

Born Baghdad.  Law degree; Painting, IFA; PhD History of Islamic Art, Sorbon, Paris.  Held several solo exhibitions in Baghdad, 1955-7; Berlin, 1959; Prague and Bucharest, 1960; Denmark, 1965 and Saudi Arabia, 1968.  A member of SIPA and UIA.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1945.  National Diploma of Art and Design, Manchester School of Art and Architecture. Continued studies at Corcoran School of Art, Washington DC, 1987-92.  Artworks in private and public collections worldwide.  Lived in Abu Dhabi, UAE; Athens, Greece; London and currently in Virginia, USA.

Born Thee Qar, Iraq, 1958.  Diploma BA Graphics, IFA, 1978; BA Painting, AFA, 1989; MA Painting, AFA, 2000.  Prizes include Honorary Awards for Young Artists, 1993; UIA, 1992; Arab League, UNESCO, 1991 and First Prize, Al-Wasiti Eighth Festival, 1991.  Work can be found in private collections in Jordan, Yemen, Tunisia and London and public collections includeing NMMA and Jordan.  Memberships: IAA/AIAP (UNESCO); UIA; The League for Iraqi Fine Arts Critics; Founding member Hewar.  Lives and works in Baghdad where she is currently the Head of the Graphics Department, IFA.

Born Hawasiya, Kurdistan, Iraq, 1958.  BA Painting, AFA, 1980.  Writer and illustrator.  Lives and works in London.

Born Tikrit, Iraq, 1940.  BA Graphics, IFA, 1959.  Further studies include: Graphics in both Peking, China, 1959-63, and Lisbon, Portugal, 1967-9.  Headed the Graphics Department at IFA.  Received numerous international awards including: First Prize, Baghdad International, 1986; Honorary Prize, Fredrikstad Fourth International Graphic Biennial, Norway, 1976; Jury Prize, Cagne-sur-Mer International Festival, France, 1977 and Honorary Award, Summer Academy, Salzburg, Austria, 1964.  Jury member at the International Graphics, Berlin, Germany, 1987.  Artwork in private and public collections world over.  Lives and works in Bahrain.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1924.  Degree Medical College, Baghdad University.  One of the early members of The Pioneers.  The first exhibition of the Pioneers was inaugurated in Dr Khalid al-Qassab's residence, Baghdad where he took part in all their exhibitions as well as numerous national shows held in Iraq and abroad.  Founding member of the UIA.  Lives in Baghdad, Iraq.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1941.  Trained at Byam Shaw School of Art, and Chelsea Pottery, 1961-3.  Taught art at the American University, Beirut, 1971-5.  Works include important governmental and private commissions.  Artwork in private and public collections worldwide including the British Museum, London.  Based in Baghdad, but commutes between Baghdad, Jordan, Lebanon and England.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1926.  Diploma Sculpture, IFA, 1947; Academy of Fine Arts, Rome, 1964.  Memberships: BGMA.  Took part in all the national and other collective exhibitions held in Iraq and abroad.  Completed several important monuments and statues in Baghdad including Al-Jundi al-Majhoul 'The Unknown Soldier'.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1882.  Studied art at the Military College, Istanbul, Turkey, 1904.  His style set the path for the generations that followed.  Memberships: AFS.  A collection of his work is shown at The Pioneers Museum, Baghdad.

Born Rawa, Iraq, 1925.  Graduated Teachers College, Baghdad, 1941.  BA Fine Arts, IFA, 1959.  Received two scholarships for art studies in Yugoslavia, 1962 and Art Management, Portugal, 1966.  Wrote and presented 'The Art Programme', Baghdad Television, 1975.  Chairman of SIPA, 1980.  Secretary of the National Committee League of Art Critics, Iraq.  Contributed numerous critical essays on art to various Arab and foreign journals.  Wrote valuable books including Meditations on Contemporary Iraqi Art, 1962; 'Path to Iraqi Folklore, 1962; Jewad Selim, 1963 and Contemporary German Art, 1965.  Curator at NMMA.  Headed the Department of Fine Arts, IFA.  Memberships: Fellow of The Pioneers; UIA; Founding member UIA.  Lives and works in Baghdad.

Born Tawela, Iraqi Kurdistan, 1962.  Studied sculpture in Baghdad, and went back to Kurdistan in 1985 to help form the Kurdish Artists' Union.  Left Iraq in 1992 settling first in Paris and then England where he obtained a BA Fine Arts, Middlesex University, 1997.  Assisted in the formation of Edwarina Artists' Group, 1992.  Published and illustrated two books on poetry.  Lives and works in London, England.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1960.  BA Painting, AFA, 1988.  Memberships: SIPA; Founding member BGMA. Received numerous awards including: Recognition Prize, First Youth Show, 1985; Second Prize, Al-Wasiti Festival, 1987; Faiq Hassan Silver Prize, 1987; Referee Award, International Biennial, Cairo, 1988 and First Prize, Ain Gallery, Amman, Jordan, 1994.  Artwork in private collections: Qatar; Kuwait; Jordan; South Africa; Tunisia; Sweden; USA, Germany; London; Spain; France; Portugal and public collections: Darat al-Funoun, Amman; NMMA.  Lives and works in Baghdad. 

Born 1927.  Memberships: The Pioneers.  Studied Social Sciences in England and exhibited annually with The Pioneers until 1962. His famous painting entitled The Algerian Revolution is considered an important event in the Iraqi art movement where he follows a Cubist, symbolic style which shows the influence of Picasso's Guernica. His followers still pursue his revolutionary trend, though he himself has moved on to a purely abstract style.  This is founded on his own theory of 'quantitative realism' based on a scientific analysis that interprets objects by abstracting colour.  Resides in Prague.

Born Iraq, 1921.  A prominent member of the Pioneers and the Son of the artist Mohammed Salih Zeki.  A cavalry officer and painter who went on to study art in England.  Known for his skilful impressionistic interpretations.  In his last years he went into seclusion, intent on further development of his art.

Born Iraq.  Achieved BA Fine Arts, AFA, 1975; Printmaking, Moscow School of Art, former Soviet Union; Art History, Damascus, Syria.  Also a freelance art critic with numerous reviews in Arab newspapers and magazines and art lecturer in Lebanon.  Has lived and worked in England since 1990.

Born Sulaimanniya, Kursdistan, early 20th century.  Often described as Kurdistan's First Artist, Aziz Selim is one of Kurdistan's pioneering artist.  Executed numerous artworks publicly including a wall mural for the Salam Hotel in Sulaimanniya.  One of his most famous works is the Slaughter of Armenians, 1912, which was bought at the time by the Brazilian Ambassador.  The artwork entitled A Village in Kurdistan depicts the holy pilgrimage site of Ain Darweesh in Sheqlawa.  Aziz Selim died recently.

Born Ankara, Turkey, 1921.  Awarded government scholarships to study sculpture in Paris, 1938-39, Rome 1939-40 and the Slade School of Art, London, 1946-49.  A prominent figure in the formation of the modern art movement in Iraq.  Returned to Iraq in 1949 where he became a founding member of IFA, 1949; BGMA, 1951; SIPA, 1956.  He worked at the Baghdad Museum of Antiquities where he spent several years restoring Sumerian and Assyrian reliefs.  After having painted his most mature works in the fifties he decided to relinquish painting and concentrate all his energy on sculpture.  Headed the Department of Sculpture, IFA until his untimely death in 1961.  The culmination of his career was his famous sculpture 'Monument for Freedom', now a landmark of Baghdad.  His style caught the imagination of virtually an entire generation of later artists and evoking a shared humanity and defining a sense of historical identity and national character, which inspired many Iraqi artists to emulate until this day.  He died of a heart attack in 1961. 

Born Sheffield, 1928.  Won a scholarship to study at university, Diploma Painting and Design, Slade School of Fine Arts, University College, London University, 1948.  Further Art Teachers' Diploma (ATD), London University Institute of Education, 1949.  Worked as an art teacher at Tapton House Grammar School, Chesterfield, England, 1949-50.  Married Jewad Selim in Baghdad, 1950.  Special activities include: Art teacher at Ta'ssisiya School, Baghdad, 1951; Iraqi Pavilion Design, International Fair, Damascus, Syria, 1954; lecturer and teacher of drawing and painting, Women's College, Baghdad, 1961; Supervised the completion of the Monument of Freedom, 1961 and taught Drawing at the Architecture Department, Engineering College, Baghdad University, 1965.  Memberships: BGMA, 1951; AFS, 1950; SIPA, 1956.  Awards: Gulbenkian Foundation Gold Medal for Painting, 1966.  Returned from Baghdad to live in the United Kingdom, 1971.  Lives and works in Abergavenny, Wales.

Born Istanboul, Turkey, 1923.  Diploma Painting, IFA, 1946; Higher Diploma Fine Arts, Acad¾mie Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Paris, 1951 where she was also a student of the artist Frenand Leger with further art studies in Germany.  After spending seven years in Paris, she returned to Baghdad where her artistic output expressed the central concern of a contemporary style of Baghdadi painting and the issue of Iraqi women  Took part in the exhibitions of BGMA in the 1950s; AFS, of which she was a member as well as the main national group exhibitions held in Iraq and abroad.  Artworks are in private and public collections world over.  Lives and works in Baghdad where she has taught for many years at AFA.

Born Ankara, Turkey, 1925.  Educated at the College of Law, Baghdad and studied at IFA for three years until 1952 when he was appointed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and consequently served as diplomat in Syria, Germany, Sudan, Sweden, Libya, Yugoslavia and the Peoples Republic of China.  Nominated as the General Director of Arts, Ministry of Information and Culture, Baghdad as well as Secretary of Art Affairs for Iraq at the United Nations, 1972.  Contributed greatly towards the development of art in Iraq: he was responsible for the promotion of the National Symphony Orchestra and the National Fashion house and Ballet School and the Department of Antiquities, Baghdad Museum where he was the founder of the Department of Renovation and Reconstruction.  Nizar Selim was also an author and art critic.  He wrote the first book on Contemporary Iraqi Art Al Fen-al-Iraqi al-Mu'asir in 1979, which was translated from Arabic into several languages and which is now a valuable source of reference on the subject.  Since the young age of seventeen, besides painting in oils, water colour, crayons, ceramics and sculpture, Nizar Selim also wrote short stories, plays and poetry.  In the mid-1970s, an International Jury nominated him as one of the best one hundred cartoonists in the world.  Held many one man shows in Bon, Baghdad and Stockholm and other countries, 1955-79.  He died of a heart attack in 1982.

Born Khartoum, Sudan, 1957.  Diploma Graphics and Printmaking, IFA, 1980; Postgraduate Diploma Audio Visuals, St Martins School of Art, London, 1983.  Took part in the Thor Heyerdahl expedition, 1977-78 (construction and crew member: Sumerian reed boat following ancient trade routes between Mesopotamia, Indus Valley and Red Sea).  Work has involved teaching and lecturing on art in various countries including Tunisia, Morocco, Yemen and England, since 1980; illustration; stage design; photography; film production; Art Advisory Consultant with the UN and non-governmental organisations.  Established and developed numerous cultural associations including: Friends of the Children's Hospital, Rabat, Morocco; International Halaqa, Yemen and Ashford Visual Artists; Ashford Visual Artists.  Artwork in private and public collections worldwide including the British Museum, London.  A junior member of the Selim dynasty of artists.  Based in England, and regularly commutes between North Africa and Europe.

Born Sammara, Iraq, 1936.  Practised painting at Hafidh al-Drobi's art studio.  Memberships include SIPA, UIA, and the Impressionists Group where he participated in all their exhibitions, inside and outside Iraq.  Held the post of Director of Arts at the Tourist & Resort Department and Art Supervisor at the Ministry of Youth, Baghdad, Iraq.  Lives and works in Amman, Jordan.

Born Baqouba, Iraq, 1937.  BA Painting, AFA.  Awards: Honorary Award, Kuwait Biennial, 1983; Honorary Award, First Qatar Exhibition for Gulf Countries, 1980.  Held numerous solo exhibitions at SIPA, Riwaq Gallery, NMMA and the Society for Heritage and the Arts, Baghdad and others.  Participated in the national exhibitions organised by the Ministry of Education and Culture, in Iraq and abroad and well as the exhibitions of the 17th July Group.  Lives and works in Baghdad, Iraq.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1910.  The first Iraqi scholar to study art in England, 1930.  President AFS, 1941; Vice President UIA, 1956 where he became President in 1963, 64.  Appointed as King Faisal's private teacher, 1947.

Born Basra, Iraq, 1965.  BA Painting, AFA, 1989.  Worked as a theatre designer at the Baghdad National Theatre.  Member of SIPA and UIA.  Has exhibited widely in Iraq, the Middle East and Europe.  Living and working in London since 1998.

Born Baghdad, Iraq, 1952.  Diploma Fine Art and Design, AFA, 1974.  Worked in various media including: television animation; illustration; graphic design and painting.  Artwork in private collections worldwide.  Lives and works in London.

Wijdan was born in Amman, Jordan where she is currently the Dean of the College of Arts and Design, University of Jordan.  She achieved a PhD in Islamic Art, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, London, England, 1993;  MA, Islamic Art, SOAS, University of London, 1990; BA, History, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon, 1961 and was Private training in painting with Armando Prön (Italian) and Muhanna Durra (Jordanian), Amman, 1958-63.  Wijdan is the President and Founder of the Royal Society of Fine Arts, Amman, Jordan and Vice President of the Jordanian Institute of Diplomacy.  She is a prominent artist, contributor and editor of Contemporary Art from the Islamic World, 1989 and Modern Islamic Art: Development and Continuity, 1997 and contributing editor to Arts & the Islamic World and the Macmillan's Dictionary of Art.  Wijdan has exhibited widely and her work is in private and public collections world-wide.  She lives and works in Amman, Jordan.

Born Mosol, Iraq, 1930.  Achieved a High Diploma Art, Academy of Arts, Cairo, Egypt, 1945.  A founding member of the atelier at the University of Mosol.  Held a retrospective exhibition at NMMA, 1985 and participated in numerous exhibitions held in Mosol and Baghdad including the Al-Masour Group show, Baghdad, 1955.

Born in Baghdad, Iraq, 1888, where he died in 1974.  Completed his education in Baghdad and graduated from the Military Academy, Istana, Turkey.  In continuation, he studied painting at the House of Fine Arts for one year thereafter in Baghdad.  Concentrated on painting realistic scenes of landscapes, where he executed a large amount of artworks recording his observations of the numerous countries which he visited.  Travelled to Europe in 1938, visiting the art museums there.  Took part in major SIPA exhibitions of which he was a member.  The Iraqi environment was a focal theme in his artistic output with recurring elements such as the palm tree, rivers and orchards in addition to sunset scenes over Iraq's southern planes and northern valleys as well as scenes from Iraq's political history i.e. the 1920 revolution.

AFA        Academy of Fine Arts, Baghdad, Iraq
BGMA     Baghdad Group for Modern Art 'Jama'et Baghdad lil Fen al-Hadith'
CIA        Contemporary Iraqi Art
AFS        Art Friends Society 'Jami'yat Asdiqa' al-Fen'
IAA/AIAP (UNESCO) - International Artists Association/ International Identification for Professional Artists (UNESCO)
IFA         Institute of Fine Arts, Baghdad, Iraq
NMMA     National Museum for Modern Art, Baghdad, Iraq
SIPA       Society of Iraqi Plastic Artists
SSE         Selected Solo Exhibitions
UAA        Union of Arab Artists
UIA         Union of Iraqi Artists
IFA          Institute of Fine Arts, Baghdad, Iraq
AFA         Academy of Fine Arts, Baghdad, Iraq
SPA         Society of Plastic Artists

The contents of this page continue to be updated as we progress.  Further detailed information on contemporary Iraqi art and artists is available in the recently published Strokes of Genius: Contemporary Iraqi Art (Saqi Books) and iNCiA. Please see Books.  To visit ayagallery or for further information please contact us.