Dia al-Azzawi
b. 1939, Iraq
Over more than half a century, Dia al-Azzawi’s work has been shown in countless group and solo exhibitions worldwide, especially in Europe and across the Arab World (including three retrospectives: Paris, 2001; Abu Dhabi, 2009; Doha, 2016–17). As well as a large collection of limited-edition prints, his work has featured in myriad publications and can be found in numerous public and private collections. Best known as a colourist painter, Azzawi celebrates Arab culture in his work, while blurring the boundaries between artforms and embracing ever new technologies. His works can be distinguished by their impressive scale (especially monumental paintings, sculptures and architectural design) and the amalgamation of images and the written word (works on paper and artist’s books).
Azzawi’s artwork has been exhibited globally including a comprehensive retrospective held at Mathaf, Doha, in 2016–17. His work has been collected by public institutions worldwide, including the Arab Monetary Fund, Abu Dhabi; The Barjeel Collection, Sharjah; Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris; The British Museum, London; Calouste Gulbenkian Collection, Lisbon; Colas Foundation, Boulogne; Fondation ONA, Casablanca; Guggenheim, Abu Dhabi; Ibrahimi Collection of Iraqi Fine Art, Amman; Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris; Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman; Kinda Foundation, Riyadh; King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah; Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, Kuwait; Library of Congress, Washington D.C.; Los Angeles County Museum (LACMA), Los Angeles; Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha; Museum of Modern Art, Baghdad; Museum of Modern Art, Damascus; Museum of Modern Art, Tunis; Nabu Museum, Chekka (Lebanon); Saeb Eigner Private Collection; Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah; Tate Modern, London; Victoria and Albert Museum, London; The World Bank, Washington, D.C.