As an Iraqi born artist, Ayad Alkadhi's work centers on Arabic calligraphy in stylized forms. Calligraphy in the form of caligrams is used in his paintings as trenchant commentary on the intersection of Near Eastern and Western culture, politics and religion. These creations are deeply personal and sometimes incorporate his painted image - a reflection of an artist at the crux of East and West polarities. Alkadhi has exhibited in the Middle East, New Zealand, Europe and in the U.S.
Born in Baghdad, Iraq, Ayad Alkadhi spent his childhood between England, the United Arab Emirates and Baghdad. He is an MFA graduate of New York University's ITP Tisch School of The Arts.
At the age of 23, Alkadhi decided to leave Iraq for a better future after the first Gulf War. His temporary residence was in Amman, Jordan, where he exhibited works at the Amman branch of the Orfally Gallery. Shortly thereafter Alkadhi moved to Auckland, New Zealand where he had his first one-man art show at the Aeotea Galley in Auckland in 1999.
Alkadhi's first group exhibit in the U.S. was at the Fire Island Pines Arts Project's 9th Biennial art show, followed by a group showing at the National Arts Club in New York, where his work earned the Will Barnet Award. Other group showings were with the Nader Gallery and LT-MH Gallery in New York City and with the Iraqi Art Gallery in Chicago. In California, Alkadhi exhibited At the Palm Springs Museum and Exposure Gallery in Palm Springs. Alkadhi’s most recent exhibits were at the Station Museum in Houston, Texas and at the European Parliament in Brussels.