An exhibition at NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery traces the legacy of the Baghdad Group's modernist ideas and their impact on generations of Iraqi artists. From today until June 7, the NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery hosts the exhibition 'Diverse Experiences: The Legacy of the Baghdad Group for Modern Art'. The exhibition is curated by art historian and lead researcher at the Murrad Center for Arab Art Studies, a faculty member at NYU Abu Dhabi, Nada Al-Shaboot. The exhibition traces how Iraqi artists forged a modern visual language from Baghdad during a pivotal period coinciding with state-building efforts and decolonization. Executive Director of the Art Gallery and Chair of the Art Council at NYU Abu Dhabi, Maya Allison, said: 'The exhibition addresses the core mission of the NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery as a university museum—to develop and map out pivotal moments in art history that have not yet been sufficiently studied. It brings together paintings, sculptures, works on paper, and extensive archival materials, many of which have not been documented before'. The Baghdad Group for Modern Art was founded in 1951 by artists Jawad Salim (1919-1961) and Shakir Hassan Al Said (1925-2004) and emerged at a time when Iraq was dealing with the cultural and political repercussions of colonial rule. In turn, Nada Al-Shaboot said: 'The Baghdad Group for Modern Art viewed modernity as an international dialogue, not just a Western legacy. Their work reflects a conscious effort to negotiate concepts of heritage, national identity, and artistic freedom at a critical historical moment. This exhibition focuses on that story while also highlighting the impact of this perspective on the formation of contemporary art practices'. The exhibition brings together paintings, sculptures, works on paper, and extensive archival materials, many of which have not been documented before, and spans from the 1950s to the present.
