List of Iraqi artists

Main article: Iraqi art

The following is a list of important artists, including visual arts, poets and musicians, who were born in Iraq, active in Iraq or whose body of work is primarily concerned with Iraqi themes or subject matter.

Note: This article uses Arabic naming customs: the name "al" (which means 'from a certain place') or "ibn" or "ben" (which means 'son of') are not used for alphabetical indexing. Artists are listed alphabetically by their paternal family name. For example, the Iraqi artist Hashem Muhammad al-Baghdadi, is listed under "B" for Baghdadi, the paternal family name while the artist Zigi Ben-Haim, is listed under "H" for Haim.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

A

• Faraj Abbo (1921–1984), artist, theatre director, designer, author and educator[1]
• Firyal Al-Adhamy (also known as Ferial al-Althami) (b. 1950) hurufiyya artist, calligrapher
• Kajal Ahmad (b. 1967), Kurdish-Iraqi poet[2]
• Najiba Ahmad (b. 1954), poet
• Modhir Ahmed (born 1956), visual artist
• Sadik Kwaish Alfraji (b. 1960), multi-media artist, photographer, animator, video producer and installation artist[3]
• Ahmed Albahrani (born 1965), sculptor and painter
• M.J. Alhabeeb (born 1954), calligrapher and painter
• Ayad Alkadhi (born 1971), visual artist
• Rheim Alkadhi (b. 1973), multidisciplinary artist
• Farid Allawerdi (1927-2007), Iraqi composer
• Sama Alshaibi (b. 1973), media and installation artist
• Usama Alshaibi (b. 1969), filmmaker and painter
• Jananne Al-Ani (b. 1966), Iraqi-Irish photographer and film-maker
• Latif al-Ani (b. 1932), photographer, known as the 'father of Iraqi photography'[4]
• Zahroun Amara, world renowned Mandaean niello silversmith. People that are known to have owned his silver nielloware include Stanley Maude, Winston Churchill, Bahrain royal family, Egyptian King Farouk, Iraqi royal family including kings Faisal I and Ghazi, and British royal family including the Prince of Wales who became Edward VIII.[5][6][7]
• Sinan Antoon (b. 1967), poet[8]
• Layla Al-Attar (1944–1993), artist and painter
• Suad al-Attar (born 1942), painter[9]
• Halla Ayla (born 1957), photographer, painter
• Apo Avedissian (b. 1990), filmmaker, painter, photographer, and writer
• Dia Azzawi (b. 1939), painter active in Iraq and London
• Fadhil Al Azzawi (born 1940), poet[10]

B

• Hashem Muhammad al-Baghdadi (1917–1973), calligrapher[11]
• Niazi Mawlawi Baghdadi, 19th-century painter, decorator and calligrapher[12]
• Ala Bashir (born 1939), painter, sculptor and plastic surgeon[13]
• Basil Al Bayati (b. 1946), architect and designer
• Wafaa Bilal (b. 1966), performance artist, author and educator

C

• Wasma'a Khalid Chorbachi (born 1944), Iraqi-American ceramist, calligrapher, painter
• Kamil Chadirji (1897–1968), photographer[14]
• Rifa'at Chadirchi (1926–2020), architect

D

• Issa Hanna Dabish (1919–2009), painter[15]
• Murad al-Daghistani (1917–1984), photographer[16]
• Salim al-Dabbagh (b. 1941), artist and print-maker[17]
• Bassem Hamad al-Dawiri (died 2007), sculptor and artist
• Hafidh al-Droubi (1914–1991), painter and educator[18]

E

• Enheduanna, 23rd century BCE poet, wrote on Cuneiform tablets
• Ali Eyal (b. 1994), multi-media artist and painter

F

• Lisa Fattah (1941–1992), German-born painter, wife of Ismail Fatah al-Turk, active in Iraq
• Fuzûlî (Muhammad bin Suleyman), 15th century poet
• Mun'im Furat (1900–1972), sculptor[19]

H

• Abdulameer Yousef Habeeb (b. ?), calligrapher
• Mohammed Saeed Al-Habboubi (1849–1915), poet
• Zaha Hadid (1950–2016), Iraqi-British architect
• Asim Abdul Hafid (1886 - ?)[20]
• Kadhim Hayder (alternatives: Kazem Haider, Kadhim Haydar) (1932–1985), artist, poet, author, stage-set designer, educator[21]
• Zigi Ben-Haim (b. 1945), sculptor and painter
• Mansur Al-Hallaj, 9th century Sufi poet and mystic
• Jamil Hamoudi, (1924–2003), sculptor, painter and author
• Choman Hardi (born 1974), poet, translator and painter
• Faeq Hassan (1914–1990), painter[22]
• Mohammed Ghani Hikmat (1929–2011), sculptor[23]

J

• Jabra Ibrahim Jabra (1920–1994), painter, art historian, art critic and author
• Khalid al-Jader (1922–1988), painter, educator, art historian and author[24]
• Muhammad Mahdi Al-Jawahiri (1899–1997), poet
• Koutaiba Al Janabi (?-?), film-maker and photographer[25]
• Amal al-Jubouri (b. 1967), poet
• Jamal Jumá, poet
• Saleh al-Jumai'e (b. 1939), contemporary artist[26]

K

• Nida Kadhim (b. 1937), sculptor
• Hayv Kahraman (born 1981), painter and sculptor
• Farouk Kaspaules (born ?), artist
• Hashim al-Khattat, "Hashim the Calligrapher," (1917–1973), calligrapher, considered as the last of the classical calligraphers
• Rachel Khedoori (born 1964), Australian-born artist of Iraqi heritage (twin sister of Toba Khedoori)
• Toba Khedoori (born 1964), Australian-born artist of Iraqi heritage, known primarily for highly detailed mixed-media paintings (twin sister of Rachel Khedoori)
• Paulus Khofri (1923–2000), composer, lyricist and painter
• Nedim Kufi (b. 1966), multi-disciplinary visual artist and graphic designer

M

• Muhammad Hasan Abi al-Mahasin, poet
• Alaa Al-Marjani (b. 1967), photographer from Najaf city, worked with AP and Reuters.
• Mohamed Makiya (1914–2015), modernist architect and patron of the arts[27]
• Hanaa Malallah (b. 1958), painter
• Hassan Massoudy (b. 1944), painter and calligrapher
• Ahmed Matar (b. 1954), poet[28]
• Dunya Mikhail (b. 1965), poet
• Ghassan Muhsen (born 1945), artist, painter and ambassador
• Ibn Muqla (885/6–940), 10th-century calligrapher

N

• Yuhana Nashmi, Mandaean visual artist and ceramicist based in Australia
• Rafa al-Nasiri (1940–2013), painter, print-maker, educator and author[29]
• Muzaffar Al-Nawab (b. 1934), poet, critic and painter[30]
• Abū Nuwās al-Ḥasan ibn Hānī al-Ḥakamī, 9th century Iraqi poet
• Farah Nosh, photographer and photo-journalist

O

• Amer al-Obaidi (b. 1943), painter[31]
• Mahmoud Obaidi (b. 1966), painter, conceptual artist, sculptor, film-maker
• Madiha Omar (1908–2005), pioneer of the Hurufiyya movement
• Widad Al-Orfali (b. 1929),[32] artist and musician

P

• Fred Parhad (b. 1947), sculptor

Q

• Qais Al-Sindy (b. 1967), artist and painter

R

• Husain al-Radi (1924–1963), politician, poet, and painter
• Nuha al-Radi (1941–2004), diarist, ceramicist, painter[33]
• Khaled al-Rahal (1926-1987), sculptor and painter[34]
• Nadhim Ramzi (1928–2013), artist and graphic designer
• Abdul Qadir Al Rassam (1882–1952), painter[35]
• Wafaa Abed Al Razzaq (b. 1952), poet[36]

S

• Miran al-Saadi (b. 1934)[37] sculptor
• Mahmoud Sabri (1927–2012), painter[38][39]
• Jamil Sidqi al-Zahawi (1863–1936), poet, educator and activist
• Ahmed Al Safi (born 1971), sculptor
• Shakir Hassan Al Said (1925–2004), painter, art historian, art critic, educator and prolific author[40]
• Issam al-Said (1938–1988), painter, print-maker, designer, etcher, architect, philosopher and author[41]
• Muhammad Sa'id al-Sakkar[42]
• Jawad Saleem (also given as Jawed Salim or Joad Salim) (1920–1961), sculptor
• Su'ad Salim (b. 1918)
• Tamara Salman, 20th century designer
• Lorna Selim (1928–2012), artist and English-born wife of Jawad Saleem
• Naziha Salim (1927–2008), artist and painter (sister of Jawad Saleem)
• Mohammed Hajji Selim (1883–1941), painter, father of Suad Salim, Jawad Saleem, Naziha Salim and Nizarre Selim[43]
• Badr Shakir al-Sayyab (1926–1964), poet
• Andy Shallal (born 1969), artist and activist
• Naseer Shamma (b. 1963), musician and singer
• Muhannad Al-Shawi (b. 1974), poet
• Walid Siti (b. 1954)[44]
• Vian Sora (born 1976), painter

T

• Ali Talib (b. 1944), painter[45]
• Aatqall Taúaa (b. ?), sculptor and author
• Ismail Fatah Al Turk (1934–2004), painter and sculptor

W

• Yahya Al-Wasiti, 13th century illustrator

Y

• Nazar Yahya (b. 1963), Iraqi-American etcher, sculptor (in metal), installation artist and photographer
• Saadi Yousef (b. 1934, near Basra), poet, author and journalist[46]
• Yaqut al-Musta'simi 13th-century calligrapher

Z

• Khalil al-Zahawi (1946–2007), calligrapher
• Muqbil Al-Zahawi (b. 1935), ceramicist[47][48]
• Salim Mohammed Saleh Zaki painter
• Haifa Zangana (born 1950), novelist, author and artist

See also

• Baghdad School
• Hurufiyya movement
• Iraqi art
• Islamic art
• Islamic architecture
• Islamic calligraphy
• List of Iraqi women artists

Major Iraqi public artworks

• Al-Shaheed Monument. Baghdad
• The Monument to the Unknown Soldier, Baghdad
• Victory Arch, Baghdad

References

1. Mermier, F., Liban, espaces partagés et pratiques de rencontre, Vol. 1 of Les cahiers de l'IFPO, Institut français du Proche-Orient, 2008, p. 143
2. Mikhail, M.,Poets in the World: 15 Iraqi Poets [Poets in the World Series], New Directions, 2014
3. Mouasher, M. and Mols, L. (eds), Modern and Contemporary Arab Art from the Levant: The Majida Mouasher Collection, Schilt Publishing, 2016, p. 105; Muller, N., Sadik Kwaish Alfraji, Schilt Publishing, 2015; "Sadik Kwaish Alfraji," [Biographical Notes], Galerie Tanit, Online:
4. Ruya Foundation, "Exhibition: Latif Al Ani, Founding Father of Iraqi Photography," October 31, 2017 Online:; Arraf, J., "Art in Iraq: ‘Baghdad is happening! It’s like New York...’" The Guardian, 19 April 2015 Online:; Montazami, M., Latif Al Ani, Hatje Cantz Verlag, 2017
5. Morgan, Major H. Sandford (17 October 1931). "Secrets in Silver - An Ancient Handicraft". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
6. "Portrait of the Amara Silversmith's leader, Zahrun". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
7. "Advance of the Crusaders into Mesapotamia | Note: name misspelled as 'Zahroam of Amara'". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
8. Mikhail, M.,Poets in the World: 15 Iraqi Poets [Poets in the World Series], New Directions, 2014
9. Eigner, S. (ed), Art of the Middle East: Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World and Iran, Merrell, 2010, p. 168
10. Mikhail, M.,Poets in the World: 15 Iraqi Poets [Poets in the World Series], New Directions, 2014
11. "Hashem Muhammad al-Baghdadi," Oxford Art Online; Bloom, J. and Blair, S.S. (eds), Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture, OUP, 2009, pp 13-14; Turner, J., The Dictionary of Art, 14 217; 161; Robinson, F. (ed.), The Cambridge Illustrated History of the Islamic World, Cambridge University Press, 1996, p. 287
12. Al-Said, S.H., Chapters from the History of Plastic Art Movement in Iraq,, 1988, p. 47; Ali, W., Islamic Art: Development and Continuity, Florida University Press, 1997, p. 46
13. Iraq Today, Volumes 104-127, Ministry of Information, Directorate General of Information, Iraq, 1980, p. 26
14. Davis, E., Memories of State: Politics, History, and Collective Identity in Modern Iraq, University of California Press, 2005, p. 305n
15. Iraqi Artists' Association, Online:
16. Saeed, M., A Portal in Space, University of Texas Press, 2016, p. 75
17. Floyd, T., "Hafidh al-Droubi," [Biography], Mathaf Encyclopedia of Modern Art and the Arab World, Online
18. Touati, S., "Salim al-Dabbagh," [Biography], Mathaf Encyclopedia of Modern Art and the Arab World, Online; Ali, W., Modern Islamic Art: Development and Continuity, University of Florida Press, 1997, p. 47; Faraj, M., Strokes Of Genius: Contemporary Iraqi Art, London, Saqi Books, 2001, p. 43
19. Baram, A., Culture, History and Ideology in the Formation of Ba'thist Iraq,1968-89, Springer, 1991, p. 76
20. Ali, W., Modern Islamic Art: Development and Continuity, University of Florida Press, 1997, p. 47
21. Al-Bahloly, S., Kadhim Haidar, [Biographical Notes], Mathaf Encyclopedia of Modern Art and the Arab World, http://www.encyclopedia.mathaf.org.qa/en/bios/Pages/Kadhim-Haidar.aspx
22. Floyd, T., "Faiq Hassan," [Biographical Notes], Mathaf Encyclopedia of Modern Art and the Arab World, Online:; Bloom, J. and Blair, S., Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture, Oxford University Press, 2009, p. 141
23. Floyd, T., "Mohammed Ghani Hikmat," Mathaf Encyclopedia of Modern Art and the Arab World, Online:
24. Floyd, R., "Khalid al-Jader," Mathaf Encyclopedia of Modern Art and the Arab World, Online; Contemporary Arts Association, Pioneers of the Plastic Art Movement in Bahrain, Ministry of Information, Government Press (Bahrain), 2009, p. 42
25. Alaq, A., "The Origins of Photography in Iraq", Arab Pictures, 24 December 2015, Online: (translated from Arabic)
26. "Saleh Jumaie" Bonhams' Gallery, Online:; Hann, G., Dabrowska, K. and Greaves, T.Y., Iraq: The Ancient Sites and Iraqi Kurdistan, Bradt Travel Guides, 2015, p.31
27. Dabrowska, K., "Mohamed Makiya: Obituary," The Guardian, 27 August 2015 Online:
28. Mikhail, M.,Poets in the World: 15 Iraqi Poets [Poets in the World Series], New Directions, 2014
29. an-Nāṣirī, S. and Muẓaffar, M. Rafa al-Nasiri His Life and Art, al-Muʼassasa al-ʻArabīya li-d-Dirāsāt wa-'n-Našr, 2010; Bleicher, S., Contemporary Color: Theory and Use, Cengage Learning, 2012 p. 190; "Rafa al-Naisiri," [Biographical Notes], Barjeel Foundation Online:; Amirsadeghi, G, Mikdadi, S., Shabout, N.M. New Vision: Arab Contemporary Art in the 21st Century, Thames & Hudson, 2009, pages 31 and 41-42
30. Estuary Auctions, Contemporary Art [Catalogue of Sale], 2018, p.62
31. Inati, S.C. (ed.), Iraq: Its History, People, and Politics, Humanity Books, 2003, p. 84; Jabra, I.J., The Grass Roots of Art in Iraq, Waisit Graphic and Publishing, 1983, p. 64, Online:
32. Widewalls, Online:
33. Pocock, C., "The Reason for the Project: Art in Iraq Today", in: Azzawi, D. (ed.), Art in Iraq Today, Abu Dhabi, Skira and Meem, 2011, p. 101; Hann, G., Dabrowska, K. and Greaves, T.T., Iraq: The Ancient Sites and Iraqi Kurdistan, Bradt Travel Guides, 2015, p. 109
34. Al-Khalil, S. and Makiya, K., The Monument: Art, Vulgarity, and Responsibility in Iraq, University of California Press, 1991, p. 75
35. Floyd, T., "Abdul Qadir Al Rassam," [Biography], Mathaf Encyclopedia of Modern Art and the Arab World, Online
36. Saeedm M., "A Legacy of Ruins: Iraqi Letters and Intellectuals Under Saddam's Regime", Al Jadid Magazine, Vol. 9, Nos. 42/43, 2003, Online:
37. "Miran Al Saadi," Ibrahimi Collection, Online:
38. "Quantum Realism, Mahmoud Sabri: A Retrospective," Six Pillars Organisation, Online:
39. Jabra, I.J., The Grass Roots of Art in Iraq, Waisit Graphic and Publishing, 1983, p. 35, Online:
40. Mejcher-Atassi, S., "Shakir Hassan Al Said," Mathaf Encyclopedia of Modern Art and the Arab World, Online:
41. Al-Ali, and Al-Najjar, D., We Are Iraqis: Aesthetics and Politics in a Time of War, Syracuse University Press, 2013, p. 42
42. Chadirji, Rifat (2021-04-08). "The architect as a collector". Round City. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
43. Ali, W., Modern Islamic Art: Development and Continuity, University of Florida Press, 1997, p. 47
44. "The Art of Walid Siti: A Vision of the Future", The Economist, 3 November, 2011, Online:
45. Eigner, S. (ed), Art of the Middle East: Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World and Iran, Merrell, 2010, p. 169 and p. 197
46. Mikhail, M.,Poets in the World: 15 Iraqi Poets [Poets in the World Series], New Directions, 2014
47. Hann, G., Dabrowska, K. and Greaves, T.T., Iraq: The Ancient Sites and Iraqi Kurdistan, Bradt Travel Guides, 2015, p. 109
48. Pocock, C., "The Reason for the Project: Art in Iraq Today", in: Azzawi, D. (ed.), Art in Iraq Today, Abu Dhabi, Skira and Meem, 2011, p. 101

Further reading

• Benezit Dictionary of Asian Artists, Oxford University Press, 2017
• Bloom, J. and Blair, S.S. (eds), Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture, Vols 1–3, Oxford University Press, 2009
• Davis, B., "The Iraqi Century of Art," Artnet Magazine, July, 2008, Online
• Dougherty, B.K. and Ghareeb, E.A., Historical Dictionary of Iraq, Scarecrow Press, 2013
• Farhat, Maymanah, "Iraqi Artists in Exile," Selections magazine, no. 30, 2015 Online
• Hann, G., Dabrowska, K. and Greaves, T.T., Iraq: The Ancient Sites and Iraqi Kurdistan, Bradt Travel Guides, 2015, pp 29–32
• Jabra, I.J., The Grass Roots of Art in Iraq, Waisit Graphic and Publishing, 1983, Online:
• Khalil, S. and Makiya, K., The Monument: Art, Vulgarity, and Responsibility in Iraq; University of California Press, 1991
• Lindgren, A. and Ross, S., The Modernist World, Routledge, 2015
• Sabrah, S.A. and Ali, M., Iraqi Artwork Red List: A Partial List of the Artworks Missing from the National Museum of Modern Art, Baghdad, Iraq, 2010
• Salīm, N., Iraq: Contemporary Art, Volume 1, Sartec, 1977; Mathaf Encyclopedia of Modern Art and the Islamic World, Online:
• Shabout, N., "Ghosts of Futures Past: Iraqi Culture in a State of Suspension," in Denise Robinson, Through the Roadbloacks: Realities in Raw Motion, [Conference Reader], School of Fine Arts, Cyprus University, (23-25 November 2012), 2015
• Shabout, N., "The Preservation of Iraq's Modern Heritage in the Aftermath of the US Invasion of 2003," in: Elaine A. King and Gail Levin (eds), Ethics And the Visual Arts, New York, Allworth, 2006, pp 105 –120
• Tuohy, A. and Masters, C., A-Z Great Modern Artists, Hachette UK, 2015; Al-Ali, N. and Al-Najjar, D., We Are Iraqis: Aesthetics and Politics in a Time of War, Syracuse University Press, 2013;