A Pivotal Movement: The Baghdad Modern Art Group at NYU Abu Dhabi

Within the enlightened cultural sphere of Abu Dhabi, we are invited to embark upon a most intellectually stimulating exploration of one of the twentieth century’s most significant artistic movements. The NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery presents ‘All Manner of Experiments: Legacies of the Baghdad Modern Art Group,’ a meticulously curated exhibition that illuminates the profound contributions of a pioneering collective that emerged at a truly pivotal moment in Iraqi cultural history.

Founded in 1951 by the visionary artists Jewad Selim and Shakir Hassan Al Said, the Baghdad Modern Art Group represented an extraordinary convergence of creative minds. The collective brought together not merely artists, but a sophisticated ensemble of architects, writers and intellectuals, all united by a singular purpose: to forge a revolutionary visual language that harmoniously synthesised global modernism with the rich tapestry of local heritage and tradition.

This most remarkable movement shaped generations of artistic practice throughout Iraq and far beyond its borders, establishing a cultural resonance that continues to reverberate through contemporary art discourse. The group’s commitment to bridging the universal language of modernism with deeply rooted cultural identity offers profound lessons for our contemporary moment, when such synthesis remains eternally relevant.

Curated with scholarly precision by Dr. Nada Shabout, this exhibition unfolds through January 3, 2027, inviting discerning guests to traverse the transformative legacy of these pioneering artists and their enduring influence upon the artistic landscape of the region and indeed the world.