Naziha Rashid

I try to keep my work simple and clear yet elegant, while maintaining a core of spirituality from Iraq, birthplace of prophets and the greatest of civilizations, and from Baghdad, birthplace of wonders, magic and imagination.

I feel a great nostalgia for my dear country... which has been ravaged by wars and is still caught in the grip of struggle and destruction. I seek refuge in painting villages and the countryside, which are steeped in folklore, beautiful old traditions, and a kind of security so different from the current state of affairs. It is a vision of hope... My colors include earthy tones like ochre, red, burnt amber, and brown. I also use the colors of the dawn and the heat of the sun.

The village woman is the central figure in my paintings, and everything else… supports her presence. She is not just an afterthought or an ornament but rather of central importance in life. Beauty graces her seated figure or while at work. I depict her in different aspects, both happy and sad, and as a mother. Folkloric symbols are prevalent in my paintings: a full moon, a crescent moon, a hand, a bird, tribal tattoos…

…I strive in my work to create a world that is beautiful and full of love, hope, and optimism that revolves around happiness and security no matter how difficult or ugly conditions become around the world.

– NAZIHA RASHI

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