National Museum of Modern Art, Art museum in Baghdad, Iraq.
The National Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Baghdad holding around 7,000 artworks spread across four main exhibition halls displaying paintings by Iraqi artists. The collection spans a wide range of modern works and features both indoor and outdoor viewing spaces for visitors.
The museum was founded in 1962 with support from the Ministry of Guidance and a grant from the Gulbenkian Foundation under Prime Minister Abdul Karim Qasim. Its establishment was part of an effort to promote the modern art scene in Iraq during that period.
The museum displays works by influential Iraqi artists including Akram Shukri, Hafiz Al-Droubi, Atta Sabri, and Faeq Hassan from various artistic periods. These works reflect different movements in modern Iraqi art and show how local artists have expressed their perspectives on tradition and contemporary creation.
The museum is open during daytime hours and has parking available near Al-Saadoun Street. It is best to plan a daytime visit and allow enough time to explore all four exhibition halls at a comfortable pace.
In 2003, numerous artworks were stolen from the collection, but about 2,000 pieces were later recovered through various efforts. The ongoing attempts to retrieve the remaining works reflect the institution's commitment to rebuilding.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
