Alì Assaf Retrospective at MLAC Traces Four Decades of Exile and Political Art

Sapienza University of Rome's MLAC – Museo Laboratorio di Arte Contemporanea is hosting "Alì Assaf. Opere 1973-2011," marking the first significant retrospective in Italy of Iraqi artist Alì Assaf, who was born in Basra in 1950. Curated by Arianna Desideri alongside a committee that includes Ada Barbaro, Marta D'Andrea, Michelina Di Cesare, and Francesca Gallo, the exhibition delves into themes of diaspora and postcolonialism. Assaf's artistic journey, which spans nearly forty years, features early figurative works and political commentary after 1979. Notable pieces include "Il Diario della Guerra del Golfo" (1990-1991) and "Al Basrah the Venice of the East" (2010). The exhibition is open from April 21 to May 29, 2026, with events such as the European Night of Museums on May 23.