Eyad Maki

Ayad Alkadhi, born in Baghdad in 1971, is an Iraqi-born artist based in New York City. He is renowned for his paintings that explore the intersection of Near Eastern and Western cultures, politics, and religion. Alkadhi's work is characterized by the use of Arabic calligraphy and Middle Eastern motifs, reflecting his heritage and the complexities of contemporary identity.

After leaving Iraq following the first Gulf War, Alkadhi relocated to the United States in 2000. He earned a Master of Fine Arts from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. His notable series include "I am Baghdad" (2008–2015), addressing post-occupation Iraq and the emotional struggles of its people, and "If Words Could Kill" (2012–2015), which delves into the power of language through calligraphic forms resembling weapons.

Alkadhi's work has been exhibited at esteemed institutions such as the Honolulu Museum of Art, Nasher Museum of Art, University of Michigan Museum of Art, Nevada Museum of Art, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Queens Museum of Art, Herbert Johnson Museum, the Austrian Cultural Forum, and the Station Museum of Contemporary Art. His art has also been featured in the publication "Contemporary Art in the Middle East" by Black Dog Publishing.