Mathaf to host exhibition on legacies and experiments of Baghdad Modern Art Group

Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Qatar will host a major exhibition titled "What Lingers in the Artist Mind: Experiments and Legacies of the Baghdad Modern Art Group" from October 25, 2026 to February 6, 2027. The exhibition explores the history, legacy, and ongoing relevance of this influential collective.

Drawing from Mathaf's extensive collections, the exhibition features paintings, sculptures, sketches, photographs, archival materials, and original research. Organized into 17 thematic sections from the 1940s to present day, it offers new perspectives on the movement's emergence, evolution, and continued impact on artistic discourse.

Founded in 1951 by Jewad Selim and Shakir Hassan al-Said, the Baghdad Modern Art Group aimed to create a uniquely Iraqi artistic language by integrating Mesopotamian heritage, Islamic traditions, and international modernist ideas. The exhibition reveals the group's process of discovery through archival materials and original research, illustrating the role of museums in preserving artistic legacies.

Curator Nada Shabout said the exhibition invites audiences to explore beyond individual artworks, engaging with the ideas, conversations, and cultural aspirations that defined the group. Works by co-founders and leading Iraqi visual artists who engaged with the movement are on view, including Jewad Selim, Shakir Hassan al-Said, Mohammed Ghani Hikmat, and many others.

The exhibition is part of the Qatar Creates Fall/Winter 2026-27 season, reflecting Qatar's commitment to cultural exchange and creative dialogue. A symposium will accompany the exhibition, hosted by Mathaf and VCUarts Qatar, to further contextualize the collective and its enduring influence on Iraqi art and global modernism.