Trees and Reflections in Watercolors, 1954

Lorna Selim (1928–2021) was a British-born artist who became a significant figure in the Iraqi modern art movement after moving to Baghdad in the 1950s. Renowned for her evocative depictions of Baghdad’s urban landscape and vernacular architecture, Selim worked primarily in painting and drawing, often capturing the city’s traditional mud-brick houses and the daily life along the Tigris River. Her style combined elements of modernism with a deep sensitivity to local Iraqi themes, reflecting both her Western training and her immersion in Middle Eastern culture.

Selim was closely associated with the Baghdad Modern Art Group, exhibiting alongside leading Iraqi artists and contributing to the development of contemporary art in Iraq. Her works have been featured in major institutional exhibitions, including retrospectives at the Iraqi National Museum of Modern Art and group shows highlighting the contributions of women artists in the Arab world. In recent years, her paintings have appeared at international auction houses such as Christie’s and Bonhams, where they have attracted attention from collectors interested in Middle Eastern modernism. Lorna Selim’s legacy endures as a bridge between cultures and as a chronicler of a rapidly changing Baghdad, making her a pivotal figure in 20th-century Iraqi art history.