Meet Dia Azzawi

Author Art Dubai

Recognized as one of the pioneers of modern Arab art, the London-based, Iraqi artist Dia Azzawi’s body of work spans over forty years. Born in 1939, in Baghdad, Iraq, Azzawi's art draws inspiration from his homeland, and covers a range of subjects executed in a variety of media including painting, sculpture, prints, drawings, and book art.

Azzawi started his artistic career in 1964, after graduating from the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad and completing a degree in archaeology from Baghdad University in 1962; his studies of ancient civilizations and Iraqi heritage have had a profound impact and continued impact on his art.

Produced by Forward James