Salam Atta Sabri is one of the most important Iraqi artists of his generation. He is trained as a ceramist, but also creates sculptures, paintings and drawings. He lived for sixteen years in the United States – where he also studied at California State University in Los Angeles – and then in Jordan. When he returned to his hometown Baghdad in 2005, the situation there was extremely problematic: militia struggles, extreme violence, political instability, corruption and chaos. In the absence of basic materials for ceramics, Atta Sabri launched into drawing. His pictorial language deals with both modernist elements and motifs from ancient civilizations between the Tigris and the Euphrates.
Salam Ata Sabri
SALAM ATTA SABRI
Place of birth: Baghdad, Iraq
Date of birth: 26 Jun 1953
Nationality: Iraqi
Professional Experience:
2009 – 2016: Director, National Museum of Modern Art, Baghdad, Iraq.
2005 – 2008: Dean, Institute of Art and Traditional Crafts, Ministry of Culture, Baghdad, Iraq.
2005-2008: Instructor of Practical Ceramics, History of Ceramics, Ceramic Techniques, and Sculpture Ceramics, Institute of Art and Traditional Crafts, Ministry of Culture, Baghdad, Iraq.
1997-2005: Founder of the Ceramic Department at the Deanship of Student Affairs & Free hand drawing’s Instructor for the Department of Architecture and Islamis Arts in Al Al Bayet University (Jordan).
Education:
1986-1990: B.F.A. (Ceramics). California State University, Los Angeles. USA.
Publications:
Red List of Iraqi Artwork, a partial list of artwork missing from Iraq’s National Museum of Modern Art following the looting in 2003. Published and distributed by the USA Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq.
Lost Cultural Heritage, a partial list of artwork missing from Iraq’s National Museum of Modern Art. Published by “Dar al-Mamoon”, Ministry of Culture, Baghdad, Iraq, 2013.
Letters to my Father, an art book that presents a set of drawings, like a stream of consciousness, the images flow into a story. Published by Ruya Foundation for Contemporary culture in Iraq & S.M.A.K museum in Belgium / Ghent.
Exhibitions:
2019 Art works Exhibition (35 art work), “Epic of Gilgamish” in Abu Dhabi Art fair.
2019 My personal Art Exhibition “letters from Baghdad” in Al Mutanabi Street Baghdad.
2016 Art works Exhibition in S.M.A.K museum “The bottom line” with another 52 Artistist in Belgium.
2016 “Invisible Beauty” exhibition transferred to S.M.A.K museum (Belgium).
2017 “Invisible Beauty” exhibition transferred to Erbil Castle gallery in Kurdistan (Iraq).
2015 “Invisible Beauty” exhibition in the Iraqi pavilion at the 56th international Art Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia sponsored by Ruya foundation (Italy) 2015.
1989 Solo Show of Ceramics, “Sumer My Darling”, Fine Arts Gallery, California State University, Los Angeles, California, USA.
1987 Ceramics Art Show, Art Endeavor Gallery, Semi Valley, California, USA.
1986-1989 Instructor and Student Group Art Show, Fine Arts Department, California State University, Los Angeles, California, USA.
1986 The Third World Artists Art Show, Museum of Science and Industry, California, USA.
1986 Solow Show of Ceramics, “The Sky Colored Domes”, Seed Gallery, California State
University, Los Angeles, California, USA.
1985 Ceramics Art Show with Artist Zuhair Shaoouni, American Culture and Language Program, California State University, Los Angeles, USA.
1985 Ceramics Art Show, San Diego City Hall Gallery, California, USA.
1972 Solo Show of Ceramics, Czechoslovakia Culture Center, Baghdad, Iraq.
1969 Solo Show of Ceramics, National Museum of Modern Art, Baghdad, Iraq.