Amer Al Obaidi (Iraqi, b. 1943)

The Iraqi Amer Al Obaidi nurtured and is inspired by old imagery collected in his childhood from observing some of old rituals of horse riders in the Iraqi villages. Celebrating key moments, these horsemen were very proud and strongly connected to the land of Iraq and to their identity.

Al Obaidi studied art in Baghdad at the Fine Art Academy and graduated in 1968. He then worked for a brief few years in Saudi Arabia before coming back to Baghdad and occupying the position of Director of the then National Museum of Modern Art for 20 years from 1975 until 1995. He participated and exhibited in solo shows in many countries and he has large murals in public institutions in Iraq and in the Arab world. The artist won many art prizes including first in the international art exhibition in Ibiza, Spain. Today he lives and works in Iowa, USA.