Biography
Resmi Al Kafaji was born in Diywania, Iraq, in 1945. He earned a degree in art from the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad and later pursued a diploma in Fine Arts in painting from the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy. Al Kafaji’s work represents a fusion of Iraqi and European cultures.
After exhibiting in Iraq, Al Kafaji moved to Italy in 1977, where he has been based ever since. Since 2003, he has exclusively worked in black and white. His watercolours on paper feature abstract shapes that suggest recognizable objects while remaining open to interpretation. His sculptures and installations emphasize the poetics of light and shadow, using contrast as a fundamental element.
Notably, Al Kafaji is the first Arab artist to have his work displayed at the Napoli Museum. His pieces are held in various collections, including the C.A.O.S. Museum in Terni, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Casoria, the Museum of Arts and Antiquities at Al-Qadissiya University in Iraq, and private collections in Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Great Britain.
Artwork
