Biography
Born in Baghdad in 1939, Dia Azzawi is an esteemed artist known for his influential work that spans over half a century. He graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad in 1964 and began his career in art, focusing on the intersection of cultural heritage and innovative artistic expression. In 1969, Azzawi founded the New Vision group (al-Ru’yya al Jadidah), emphasizing ideological and cultural aspects of art, particularly reflecting on Palestinian tragedies and nationalistic themes.
Azzawi’s career includes notable roles, such as serving as the director of the Iraqi Antiquities Department from 1968 to 1976 and as an art advisor to the Iraqi Cultural Centre in London from 1977 to 1980. His time in London also led him to rediscover and innovate within the book art medium (dafatir).
His work is featured in prestigious international collections, including the British Museum, Tate Modern, Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris. He also has pieces in the Museums of Modern Art in Baghdad, Damascus, and Tunis; the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts; Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art; Barjeel Art Foundation; Kinda Foundation; Una Foundation; Arab Monetary Fund; Development Fund; and Jeddah International Airport.
In 2016, Mathaf: The Arab Museum of Modern Art in Qatar held a major retrospective of Azzawi’s work, titled “I am a cry, who will give a voice to me?”, showcasing pieces from over 50 years of his career.
Artwork
