Halim Al Karim

Halim Al Karim is a contemporary Iraqi artist renowned for his blurred and manipulated photographs that merge various visual elements. His compositions incorporate film stills, artifacts, photos, and paintings to explore themes of past trauma, reality, and dreams. Al Karim often adds a delicate layer of white or black silk over his prints, further obscuring the images. Born in Najaf, Iraq, in 1963, he studied at the Baghdad Academy of Fine Arts and the Gerrit Reitveld Academie in Amsterdam. His work reflects his personal experiences, including his dramatic escape and three-year hiding during the Persian Gulf War. Al Karim's art has been exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale, and can be found in notable collections such as the Arab Museum of Contemporary Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. He currently divides his time between Denver, CO, and Dubai, UAE.