Rand Abdul Jabbar Wins 2022 Richard Mille Art Prize
Rand Abdul Jabbar, an artist from Baghdad now based in Abu Dhabi, received the 2022 Richard Mille Art Prize for her series of abstract clay sculptures titled Earthly Wonders, Celestial Beings, which draws inspiration from ancient Mesopotamia. This series originated from a 2016 exhibition at Dubai Design Week and showcases elements of Iraq's architecture, mythology, and folklore. A graduate of Columbia in architecture, Abdul Jabbar shifted from design to contemporary art following her installation Excavations. Her body of work includes 100 sculptures that resemble headdresses and idols, delving into themes of memory and cultural heritage. Influenced by her mother's ceramics, her notable pieces also feature Gardenia (2017) and Every Act of Recognition Alters What Survives (2021). Abdul Jabbar was 13 during the 2003 Iraq invasion, and the award was previously given to Nasser Alzayani in 2021.
Key facts
- Rand Abdul Jabbar won the 2022 Richard Mille Art Prize.
- Her series Earthly Wonders, Celestial Beings features abstract clay sculptures inspired by ancient Mesopotamia.
- The project originated from a 2016 exhibition for the Iraq pavilion of Abwab at Dubai Design Week.
- Abdul Jabbar holds an architecture degree from Columbia University.
- Her earlier design work includes Forma (2015), furniture inspired by Arab dhow boats.
- The series includes 100 clay sculptures evoking headdresses, swords, trees, flowers, and idols.
- Abdul Jabbar's mother filled their Abu Dhabi home with Iraqi ceramics.
- Every Act of Recognition Alters What Survives (2021) involved 30 displaced women in London.
Entities
Artists
- Rand Abdul Jabbar
- Nasser Alzayani
- Maitha Abdallah
Institutions
- Richard Mille Art Prize
- Dubai Design Week
- Abwab
- Columbia University
- Shubbak Festival
- The Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Canvas
Locations
- Baghdad
- Abu Dhabi
- Iraq
- Dubai
- London
- Canada
- United Arab Emirates