The NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery is set to present a major exhibition that revisits one of the most influential movements in Arab art history. Titled “All Manner of Experiments: Legacies of the Baghdad Modern Art Group,” the exhibition opens to the public on February 12 and will run through June 7. Bringing together rare archival materials, artworks and new research, the show highlights how Iraqi artists forged a bold modern visual identity during a period of profound political and cultural change.
At its core, the exhibition reflects NYUAD Art Gallery’s mission as a university museum: to generate knowledge, deepen scholarship and create new conversations around underexplored art histories. By focusing on the Baghdad Modern Art Group, the gallery sheds light on a transformative chapter that shaped not only Iraqi art, but also the broader trajectory of modern Arab visual culture.
Revisiting a Transformative Moment in Arab Art
The Baghdad Modern Art Group emerged in the mid-20th century, a time marked by decolonisation, nation-building and a search for cultural self-definition across the Arab world. Iraqi artists were grappling with questions of identity, heritage and modernity. They were deeply aware of global modernist movements unfolding in Europe and beyond, yet equally committed to grounding their artistic language in local traditions.
This tension between the local and the global became the driving force behind their work. Rather than imitating Western modernism, artists sought to reinterpret it through the lens of Mesopotamian heritage, Islamic art, and Iraqi folk traditions. The result was a distinctive visual language that merged abstraction with calligraphy, symbolism and references to ancient history.
The exhibition explores how these artists experimented with form, technique and ideology. Through paintings, sketches, documents and archival research, visitors are invited to see how art became a vehicle for intellectual inquiry and cultural renewal. The Baghdad Modern Art Group was not merely producing artworks; it was shaping ideas about what it meant to be modern and Iraqi at a pivotal historical moment.
A Research-Driven Curatorial Vision
The exhibition is curated by renowned art historian Nada Shabout, Senior Investigator at al Mawrid Arab Center for the Study of Art and a faculty member at NYU Abu Dhabi. Her approach treats the exhibition as an act of investigation and knowledge production rather than a simple display of artworks.
By bringing archives to life, Shabout situates the Baghdad Modern Art Group within a broader intellectual framework. Letters, photographs and historical documents appear alongside the artworks, offering insight into the artists’ debates, aspirations and philosophical positions. This layered narrative allows visitors to understand not just what the artists created, but why they created it.
Maya Allison, Executive Director of the Art Gallery and Chief Curator at NYU Abu Dhabi, emphasised the scholarly importance of the exhibition. She noted that the gallery’s role as a university museum involves mapping crucial yet understudied moments in art history. According to Allison, Shabout’s curatorial approach lays the groundwork for future research and ensures that the Baghdad Modern Art Group receives the rigorous academic attention it deserves.
Archives as Living Memory
One of the defining features of the exhibition is its emphasis on archival inquiry. In many cases, the histories of Arab modern art movements have been fragmented or overlooked due to political upheaval, limited documentation or institutional gaps. By carefully assembling archival materials, the NYUAD Art Gallery helps reconstruct a narrative that might otherwise remain incomplete.
This process is not merely about preservation. It is about activating memory and creating space for dialogue. The exhibition invites scholars, students and members of the public to reconsider how modern Arab art has been written into global art history. It challenges assumptions and encourages viewers to think critically about whose stories are told and whose are still emerging.
In doing so, the show reflects Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a centre for cultural research and exchange. The city has increasingly positioned itself as a platform for meaningful conversations about heritage, identity and the arts. Hosting a research-driven exhibition of this scale reinforces that commitment.
Art, Identity and Nation-Building
The Baghdad Modern Art Group formed at a time when Iraq was redefining itself as a modern nation-state. Artists were responding to sweeping changes in politics, society and education. They saw art as a powerful tool for articulating a shared cultural vision.
Many of the group’s members believed that modern art could embody the spirit of a new Iraq. By drawing on ancient Mesopotamian motifs and Islamic aesthetics, they connected contemporary creativity with deep historical roots. This synthesis allowed them to assert cultural continuity while embracing innovation.
The exhibition traces these connections with care. It highlights how individual artists navigated personal expression and collective identity. Some embraced abstraction as a universal language, while others infused their work with symbolic references to Iraqi history. Together, their efforts created a movement that was both intellectually rigorous and emotionally resonant.
Visitors to the exhibition will encounter artworks that reveal experimentation in color, composition and material. They will also see how artistic debates unfolded within the group, reflecting broader discussions about authenticity, modernity and cultural autonomy.
NYUAD’s Commitment to Regional Art Histories
The NYUAD Art Gallery has consistently positioned itself as a space for scholarship and critical engagement. Rather than focusing solely on global art market trends, the gallery prioritises research-led exhibitions that expand understanding of regional histories.
“All Manner of Experiments: Legacies of the Baghdad Modern Art Group” exemplifies this commitment. By foregrounding archival research and academic inquiry, the exhibition deepens public appreciation of Arab modernism and encourages further study.
It also provides an important platform for emerging scholars and students. As part of a university environment, the gallery integrates teaching, research and exhibition-making. Students have the opportunity to engage directly with primary materials and to participate in conversations that shape contemporary art discourse.
This holistic approach underscores the gallery’s role as more than a display space. It functions as a living laboratory where ideas are tested, histories are revisited and new interpretations are formed.
A Landmark Exhibition for the Region
Running from February 12 through June 7, the exhibition offers an extended opportunity for audiences to explore the enduring impact of the Baghdad Modern Art Group. Its timing and depth make it one of the most significant art events in Abu Dhabi’s cultural calendar.
By revisiting a foundational movement in Iraqi art, the show not only honours the artists who shaped it but also opens new pathways for understanding Arab modernism as a dynamic and evolving field. It reminds viewers that modern art in the region was never a passive import. It was an active, thoughtful and courageous process of experimentation.
Ultimately, the exhibition stands as a testament to the power of art to define identity, challenge conventions and inspire future generations. Through research, dialogue and creative exploration, NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery invites the public to rediscover a legacy that continues to resonate across the Arab world and beyond.
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