Iraq has a long and rich artistic heritage, and its contemporary artists continue to make waves on the global stage. From painters to photographers, sculptors to multimedia innovators, these creatives are redefining the boundaries of Iraqi art and sharing powerful narratives with the world. As we move into 2025, here are 11 Iraqi artists whose work you should definitely be following.
Sadik Kwaish Alfraji
Sadik Kwaish Alfraji (b. 1960, Baghdad) is an Iraqi multi-media artist known for his existentialist works featuring shadowy, faceless figures that explore human frailty, memory, and displacement. Trained in painting and printmaking, he earned a Diploma in Plastic Arts (1982) and a BA from Baghdad’s Academy of Arts (1987).
Influenced by Expressionism, philosophy, and literature, Alfraji’s distinctive style has been showcased in major exhibitions worldwide, including the Venice Biennale (2017). His works are part of renowned collections such as the British Museum, the National Museum of Modern Art (Baghdad), LACMA, and the Museum of Fine Arts (Houston).
Cheb Moha
Cheb Moha is a multidisciplinary artist known for his work as a photographer, stylist, poet, and fashion designer. He is the founder of the streetwear brand Shabab Almustaqbal, blending contemporary aesthetics with cultural narratives. A self-described nomad, he was born in Iraq, raised between Libya and Canada, and now moves between Dubai, Kuwait, and Muscat, using his art to document and explore the Middle East and beyond.
His photography has been featured in Vice iD, Vogue Arabia, The Fader, and Hypebeast, with editorial shoots for Brownbook and campaigns for brands like Vans, Carhartt WIP, and Arwa Al Banawi. He has also exhibited internationally, including at Brighton Photo Fringe.
Sundus Abdul Hadi
Sundus Abdul Hadi is an Iraqi-Canadian artist, writer, and curator whose work explores themes of trauma, resilience, and care. Based in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, she holds a BFA in Studio Arts and Art History and an MA in Media Studies. Her creative practice spans visual art, literature, and cultural advocacy.
She is the author and illustrator of Shams, a children’s book on trauma and healing, and the forthcoming Take Care of Your Self: The Art and Cultures of Care and Liberation (2020). She is also the founder of Maktaba Bookshop and co-founder of We Are The Medium, an artist collective.
Abdul Hadi’s work has been exhibited globally, including in Palestine, the UAE, and France. She has led workshops in Australia, Iraq, and Kuwait and spoken at Nuqat, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, and the Aga Khan Museum. A recipient of multiple awards, her work is part of the Barjeel Art Foundation collection.
Amir Hazim
Amir Hazim is an Iraqi multimedia artist whose work delves into themes of memory, identity, and cultural history. Born in Iraq, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Art from the University of Baghdad. His practice is deeply influenced by his early life in post-2003 Baghdad, blending photography, sound, sculpture, painting, and installation to explore human nature within broader social and historical contexts.
Currently focused on photography, Hazim’s work is distinguished by his masterful use of light and shadow, presented in both cinematic grayscale and vivid color. His experimental approach challenges perceptions, inviting viewers to question the meaning of art and their relationship with their surroundings. He has exhibited internationally, including at the RAF 3rd Edition in Ramallah with Zawyeh Gallery in 2022.
Tamara Abdul Hadi
Tamara Abdul Hadi is an Iraqi photographer and educator whose work explores cultural representation through photography. Her practice challenges stereotypes and seeks to present nuanced narratives of identity and heritage.
In addition to her photography, she has taught extensively across Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, the UAE, Kuwait, Tunisia, and Canada, fostering visual storytelling in diverse communities. Her work has been widely published, though she now focuses on independent projects.
Abdul Hadi’s photographs have been exhibited globally, and she frequently collaborates with her partner, Roï Saade. In 2022, she released her debut monograph, *Picture an Arab Man*, a compelling exploration of masculinity in the Arab world.
Iyad Al-Mosawi
Eyad Al-Musawi, born in Baghdad, has been deeply influenced by the city's artistic heritage and Islamic architecture. His journey as an artist has taken him across Kuwait, Morocco, and the UAE, enriching his perspective and creative approach.
In 1979, he participated in the Asilah Cultural and Artistic Festival in Morocco. He later pursued his studies at Concordia University in Montreal, earning a BA in Graphic Arts, followed by a High Diploma in Arts Studies and Graphic Studio. In 1991, he was awarded a scholarship from Luswayt Firmt, further solidifying his artistic foundation.
Musawi’s work is a fusion of abstraction and surrealism, characterized by bold colors, uprooted houses, and floating trees, reflecting themes of movement and displacement. He sees art as a continuous challenge, constantly inventing new modes of expression. Drawing inspiration from Sufi mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi, he seeks to bridge modern and traditional art forms.
Currently, Musawi is based at the Banff Cultural Center in Alberta, Canada, where he continues to push artistic boundaries with his experimental 3D projects.
Ali Al Tajer
Ali Muhammad-Ali Al Tajer (b. 1962, Karbala) is an Iraqi painter and art historian known for his depictions of daily urban life and traditional Iraqi culture. He studied drawing at the University of Baghdad’s College of Fine Arts, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1987 and a master’s in drawing in 1992.
A member of both the Association of Iraqi Artists and the Organization of Iraqi Fine Artists, Al Tajer blends realism with symbolic elements, often featuring flowers—especially roses—as recurring motifs. His work is inspired by artists such as James Ensor and Marc Chagall. In 2015, his painting series Babylon combined everyday Iraqi scenes with mythological and symbolic imagery.
Beyond painting, Al Tajer is a dedicated researcher, focusing on Iraqi folk heritage and the role of ancient myths, human and animal motifs in Iraqi folk art. His work continues to document and reinterpret Iraq’s rich cultural history.
Wadhah Mahdi
Wadhah Mahdi is an award-winning Iraqi artist known for his evocative figurative paintings that capture the cultural richness of his homeland. Born in Baghdad, he studied at the Institute of Fine Arts and the Faculty of Fine Arts, graduating in 2000. His works often feature warm, earthy tones that create a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere, particularly in his portraiture, where subjects appear deep in thought or lost in introspection.
Mahdi has exhibited his work in numerous solo and collective exhibitions, both locally and internationally. Among his accolades is the First Prize from the Saudi Center for Fine Arts (2015). A member of the Iraqi Artists Association and the Society of Iraqi Plastic Artists, he continues to live and work in Baghdad, preserving and reinterpreting Iraq’s artistic heritage.
Dia al-Azzawi
Dia al-Azzawi is a renowned Iraqi multi-disciplinary artist whose work spans painting, sculpture, printmaking, and publishing. Drawing from Arab heritage, folklore, and history, he creates contemporary works that resonate locally and internationally.
As the first Iraqi artist to hold solo exhibitions abroad, Azzawi played a pivotal role in shaping Arab modern art. His 1968 manifesto Towards a New Vision responded to the decline of political pan-Arabism, inspiring cultural initiatives like the al-Wasiti Festival (1972) and the Arab Art Biennales (1974 onward). After leaving Iraq in 1976, he remained deeply engaged with the region, exhibiting widely across West Asia, North Africa, Europe, and America.
Azzawi has produced over 100 artist’s books and print collections based on Arabic literature. His work often addresses themes of war and displacement, notably in Land of Darkness (1991–present), which reflects on conflict in Iraq, and Sabra and Shatila Massacre (1982–83), housed in Tate Modern. Beyond his own practice, he champions other artists through publishing, collecting, and curating, with initiatives like his Amman ceramics studio and the Arabic-language magazine Makou.
Ayad Al-kadhi
Born in Iraq, Ayad spent his early years between Baghdad, London, and the UAE before relocating to New Zealand after the first Gulf War. In the early 2000s, he moved to New York City to further his education, earning a Master of Fine Arts from New York University’s ITP - Tisch School of the Arts. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering Science and an Associate degree in Graphic Art and Design.
Ayad’s work has been exhibited across the Middle East, New Zealand, Europe, and the U.S. His recent exhibitions include the Honolulu Museum of Art, Taiwan National Museum of Art, Nasher Museum of Art, University of Michigan Museum of Art, Nevada Museum of Art, and Los Angeles Municipal Gallery. He has also showcased his work at the Queens Museum, Austrian Cultural Forum, Herbert F. Johnson Museum, Station Museum in Houston, and Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah.
Maisoon Alrubaei
Maisoon Alrubaei is a UK-based artist whose evocative paintings have garnered a dedicated following of over 33,000 fans on Instagram. Her work captures a sense of nostalgia and intimacy, often depicting young women in modest, traditional clothing engaged in everyday tasks. The simplicity of her subjects' actions is a defining strength, drawing viewers into the quiet beauty of daily life.
Alrubaei’s use of clear yet vibrant colors, combined with deeply expressive compositions, creates a compelling narrative within each piece. Her paintings resonate with emotion, inviting the viewer to imagine the hidden backstories and unspoken dreams of her subjects. This ability to blend nostalgia with storytelling has made her a rising force in the contemporary art scene.
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