Dia Azzawi

One of Iraq’s most acclaimed artists, Dia al-Azzawi engages with the history and cultural heritage of his country in works across a broad range of media. The painter and sculptor incorporates calligraphic script, muted and sandy colors, and elements inspired by Iraq’s folklore and history into works like the etching Improvisation (1984). The recipient of numerous awards including the Jury Prize at the 1992 International Cairo Biennial, Azzawi created the New Vision art group with Rafa Nasiri, Muhammad Muhyiddin, Ismail Fattah, Hashem al-Samarchi, and Saleh Al-Jumaie, to address contemporary issues in the Middle East. The plight of the Palestinians is a central theme in his work, as seen in his renowned mural Sabra and Shatila (1982–1985) or a series of prints on fine art rag paper documenting life in Gaza after the 2008 incursion, which Image No. 8 (2011) is part of. He earned degrees in archaeology and Fine Art from the Baghdad University and the Institute of Fine Arts, Baghdad respectively. His works are in the collections of the British Museum and Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art.