Seated Nude Woman with Crescent Moon, 1972

Monqith Al-Sharidah (1946–2014) was an Iraqi sculptor and painter known for his expressive works that often reflected the socio-political landscape of his time. Born in the Abi Al-Khasib district of Basra Governorate, Iraq, he completed his primary education at Al-Mahmoudia School and his secondary education at Abi Al-Khasib School for Boys. In 1969, he graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Baghdad with a degree in sculpture. ([ibrahimicollection.com](https://ibrahimicollection.com/node/579?utm_source=openai))

Al-Sharidah's career was marked by a series of international experiences. In 1971, he moved to Saudi Arabia to teach drawing at a Teacher Training Institute. He later pursued further studies in Italy at the Dante Academy of Art but had to leave due to financial constraints. Upon returning to Iraq, he contributed to various artistic projects, including a notable memorial at a naval headquarters in Basra, created in collaboration with artists Success Al-Jazaery, Akram Khan, and Qais Abdul Razzaq. ([ibrahimicollection.com](https://ibrahimicollection.com/node/579?utm_source=openai))

During the Iran-Iraq War, Al-Sharidah was captured in 1988 and spent several years as a prisoner of war in Iran. While in captivity, he produced 37 paintings depicting the chemical attack on Halabja, which were exhibited in the Netherlands under the pseudonym "Abu Haider," earning first place in the exhibition. Following his release, he resided in Syria before obtaining asylum in the United States, where he settled in Tennessee. Throughout his career, Al-Sharidah participated in numerous art exhibitions both within Iraq and internationally. He passed away on September 26, 2014, in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 68. ([ibrahimicollection.com](https://ibrahimicollection.com/node/579?utm_source=openai))