Palm Tree on Stamped Iraqi Postage, 1996

Nuha Al-Radi (نُهى الراضي, also transliterated as Nuha El Radi) was a prominent Iraqi artist, writer, and ceramicist, born in Baghdad in 1941 and passing away in 2004. Al-Radi is best known for her expressive ceramics and mixed-media works, which often reflect themes of memory, war, and displacement, drawing deeply from her Iraqi heritage. Her artistic practice spanned painting, sculpture, and especially ceramics, where she developed a distinctive style characterized by bold forms and vibrant glazes, frequently incorporating motifs from Mesopotamian and Islamic art.

Al-Radi’s work has been exhibited in significant institutional settings, including the British Museum in London and the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, underscoring her international recognition. She also participated in group exhibitions at venues such as the Barbican Centre and the Mosaic Rooms in London. Beyond her visual art, Al-Radi gained acclaim for her literary work, particularly "Baghdad Diaries," a personal account of life during the Gulf War, which has been widely published and translated.

Her artworks have appeared at reputable auction houses, including Bonhams and Sotheby’s, where her ceramics and paintings have attracted collectors interested in modern Middle Eastern art. Nuha Al-Radi remains a significant figure in contemporary Iraqi art, celebrated for her unique synthesis of traditional forms and contemporary expression.