Figures and Calligraphy in Roma, 1940

Jawad Saleem (1920–1961) is widely regarded as a foundational figure in modern Iraqi art and a pioneer of the Arab modernist movement. Born in Baghdad, Saleem studied sculpture in Paris and Rome before returning to Iraq, where he became a central force in shaping the country’s artistic identity. His work spans painting and sculpture, characterized by a synthesis of Mesopotamian heritage and modernist abstraction, often reflecting themes of national identity and collective memory. Saleem’s most iconic achievement is the monumental "Nasb al-Hurriyah" (Monument of Freedom) in Baghdad’s Liberation Square, a landmark that remains a symbol of Iraqi modernism.

Saleem’s art has been exhibited in major institutions, including the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha and the Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah, which have both featured his works in retrospectives of Arab modernism. His paintings and sculptures are held in prominent collections such as the Iraqi Museum of Modern Art. At auction, Saleem’s works are rare and highly sought after; notable sales have occurred at Christie’s Dubai, where his pieces have achieved significant results, underscoring his enduring legacy and the esteem in which he is held within the international art market.