Modhir Ahmed


Modhir Ahmed is an Iraqi-Swedish artist.

Life and work

Born in Baghdad, Iraq, Modhir Ahmed has lived in Poland and Sweden.
Modhir Ahmed studied at Baghdad Institute of Fine Arts and received a BFA Major in Graphic Arts. He spent his leisure time at the national museum, drawing and studying the basic principles of abstract and minimalist art. Inspired by his Polish professors Modhir pursued studies in Poland, leaving Iraq in 1980, a few months before the Iran/Iran war. After completing five years at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw he achieved an MFA Major in Painting. Modhir then went to Sweden where he studied computer graphics in Skövde to develop his printmaking techniques. He became director of The Print Workshop in Falun. Modhir gained a Karlskoga Nobel Art scholarship in Karlskoga, Sweden in 2000 for his contribution to the graphic arts.
In 2007, Modhir made an artist's book on Tomas Tranströmer’s Galleriet, entitled Vecka nr.II.
Together with partner artist/art critic Maria Vivero, he worked on a project about Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, which gave rise to the book Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, 40 years of painting, from himself, by himself, for himself, a Shaikh's retrospective.
In January 2012, Modhir Ahmed had his 35 year's Retrospective exhibition curated by Anne Seppanen at Dalarnas Museum in Falun. The exhibition will travel in October to Borås, the artist first residence in Sweden, and will be shown at Algarden Gallery. He recently visited the northern part of Iraq after 30 years.

Selected awards and scholarships