Roya Raouf
(رويا رؤوف)Iraq
Rouya Raouf, born in 1955 in Babel Governorate, Iraq, is a distinguished artist and poet. The daughter of renowned poet and writer Raouf Hassan al-Jubouri, she graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad in 1978. Raouf's artistic journey is marked by a deep engagement with themes of human experience and cultural identity, often expressed through her evocative paintings and poetry.
Throughout her career, Raouf has held numerous solo exhibitions, beginning with her 1988 debut at Al-Riwaq Hall in Baghdad. Notable exhibitions include "Thought and Man" (1989) and "Man and his Symbols" (1991) at the same venue. Her work has been showcased internationally, with exhibitions such as "Ishtar" at Picasso Hall in Cairo (2006) and "Women, Music and Colors" at Al-Jasra Art Club in Doha (2008). In 2013, she presented "Feelings and Symbols" at the Hall of Women's Culture in Leipzig, Germany. Raouf's art has also been featured in group exhibitions across Europe and the Middle East, reflecting her commitment to sharing Iraqi culture globally.
In addition to her artistic endeavors, Raouf has contributed to art education, teaching at the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad and supervising artistic activities in Iraqi schools. She established the Rouya Hall in Baghdad, a space dedicated to art exhibitions. Currently residing in Germany, Raouf continues to create art that bridges cultural divides, aiming to convey the richness of Iraqi heritage to a global audience.