Dia Azzawi
Iraq, b.1939
Dia Azzawi studied archaeology at the Faculty of Arts at Baghdad University, graduating in 1962. He simultaneously attended the College Atelier and evening classes at the Institute of Fine Arts. In 1976, Azzawi was appointed art consultant at the Iraqi Cultural Center in London. By arranging exhibitions for Arab and Iraqi artists at the Center, he was able to introduce Arab art to the British public. Since the late 1960s, Azzawi has added Arabic calligraphy to his intense and diverse artistic vocabulary, in his paintings, sculptures, and murals, at times mixed with oversize figures.
