Bronze Figure Carrying Large Slab,

Ayad Hamed (1970–2015) was an Iraqi sculptor born in Baghdad. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the Academy of Fine Arts, Baghdad, in 1994, and later obtained a Master's degree in the same field in 2009. Hamed's work is characterized by a deep engagement with contemporary themes, often reflecting the complex socio-political landscape of Iraq.

Throughout his career, Hamed participated in numerous exhibitions both within Iraq and internationally. Notably, he took part in the Contemporary Iraqi Sculpture Exhibition in 1992 and the Iraqi Contemporary Art Exhibition at Hiwar Hall in Baghdad in 1998 and 2000, where he received the second Ismail Fattah Prize for young sculptors in 2000. His international presence included participation in the Iraqi Cultural Week in Algeria in 2007 and the Mesopotamia Exhibition in Abu Dhabi in 2008. Hamed held his first solo exhibition, "Memory Ashes," at Madarat Hall in Baghdad in 2010, followed by a second solo exhibition at Alaq Hall in 2015.

In addition to his artistic practice, Hamed contributed to the academic field as a sculpture instructor at the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad. He was an active member of the Iraqi Artists Syndicate, the Iraqi Plastic Artists Association, and the Alwan Group. Tragically, Hamed passed away from a sudden heart attack in Baghdad in 2015 at the age of 45.