Naziha Salim Iraqi, 1927-2008

Naziha Salim (1927–2008) was born in Istanbul to an Iraqi family from Mosul. She was raised in Baghdad, a city filled with art and culture. Her father, Haj Mohammed Salim, was a painter and an art tutor to Prince Ghazi, growing up with renowned artists like Jawad Salim, Nizar Salim, Suad Salim, and Mohammed Rashad. Her artworks were anchored in the themes of womanhood, work, community, and childhood, mingling Iraqi heritage with modernist methods of expression. Her paintings reflected the life of the people, with a special propensity toward women and how they spend their days: domestic rituals and social bonds, expressed with warmth and a distinctive style.

Naziha Salim is an essential pioneer in Iraqi modern art. Her development of themes representing Iraqi life from the feminine perspective has inspired generations of artists throughout the Arab world.