Baghdad gallery honors legacy of late Iraqi artist Faeq Hassan

BAGHDAD – The Baghdad Fine Art Gallery hosts a retrospective exhibition celebrating the legacy of the late Iraqi artist, Faeq Hassan. The exhibition, titled “Maker of Beauty: Sketches and Memories,” showcases a collection of Hassan’s sketches, personal letters, and documents collected over three years.

Hassan, a pioneer of modern art in the Arab world, made significant contributions to the Iraqi and Arab art scenes starting in the 1940s. He studied art in Paris and gained fame for his artistic representations of the daily lives of Iraqis, particularly those from rural and nomadic communities.

Situated in the Dijlah neighborhood of the Karrada district, the exhibition was inaugurated by Jabbar Joudi, head of the Artists’ Union. The event drew a large number of painters, writers, and media outlets, offering an opportunity to explore a rich collection of artwork and documents, including 40 sketches from various stages of Hassan’s career and a half-bust sculpture by sculptor Yousif Al-Aqabi.

Ali Kadhim, director of the Fine Art Gallery, stated, “This exhibition is noteworthy not only for its content but also because it showcases Hassan’s works collectively for the first time in a single artistic space.”

The initiative aims to connect the public with the legacy of artistic pioneers like Hassan, who played a foundational role in Iraqi visual arts and contributed significantly to the establishment of art institutes and academies in the Middle East.

Kadhim mentioned that a team spent nearly three years collecting Hassan’s works, ensuring their authenticity, with contributions from experts who either knew Hassan personally or closely followed his journey.

“This collection, which includes works from several Arab countries and beyond, is a piece of national heritage belonging to Iraq,” added Kadhim, describing the exhibition as a step towards establishing a museum dedicated to pioneers like Hassan to promote a culture of art museums in the country.