Dark Stripes Over Collaged Newsprint, 2001

Mahmoud Al Obaidi (محمود العبيدي), born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1966, is a prominent contemporary artist known for his multidisciplinary practice encompassing painting, sculpture, installation, and video. Al Obaidi’s work often explores themes of memory, displacement, and the socio-political upheavals that have shaped modern Iraq, drawing on personal experience and collective history. His style is characterized by a conceptual approach, frequently incorporating found objects and mixed media to evoke the complexities of identity and exile.

Al Obaidi has exhibited internationally at major institutions, including the British Museum in London, the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, and Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha. His work was featured in the 56th Venice Biennale (2015) as part of the Iraqi Pavilion, underscoring his significance in the global art scene. He has also participated in exhibitions at the Saatchi Gallery and the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, further cementing his reputation.

At auction, Mahmoud Al Obaidi’s works have appeared at leading houses such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s, with notable sales reflecting growing collector interest in contemporary Middle Eastern art. His pieces are held in several public and private collections, attesting to his impact and continued relevance in the international art market.