Iraq's Art Scene Revives Amid Security Improvements
Published on 7.6.25
Iraq's economy is showing signs of recovery, leading to a growing interest in art among a new generation of artists, collectors, and educators. The Miraz Art Space in Sulaymaniyah was established by collector Shad Abdulkarim to promote collecting among Iraq's wealthy elite. As the country's security situation improves, artists who fled during the violence are returning to work on projects, while curators from the Arab region are touring the country to explore its art scenes. The 2019 anti-corruption protests, known as "The Tishreen," marked a turning point in this renewed optimism, according to Hella Mewis, co-founder of the Baghdad art platform Tarkib.