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PRESS

2023

  • Rijin Sahakian, “To Accelerate Time: Reflections on Artmaking in Post-invasion Iraq,” World Records Journal, Volume 8, Article II, September 2023.
  • Kerry Cardoza and Micco Caporale, “Fall in love with Chicago’s visual arts scene,” Chicago Reader, September 22, 2023.
  • Zach Long, “As a young artist, he was tortured. He lived to paint about it.” WBEZ Chicago, September 7, 2023.
  • Ryan Fazio, “After the Bombs: Bassim Al Shaker Paints From Experience in a War Zone,” Newcity Magazine, September 6, 2023.
  • Brian Hieggelke, “Art Top 5: March 2023,” Newcity Magazine, March 1, 2023.

2022

  • Amitha Amranand, “Art of Precarity: A review of some of the best exhibits at documenta fifteen,” Bangkok Post, October 13, 2022.
  • Frank Wasser, “Is Art Rooted in Life? Documenta, Now,” Flash Art, September 21, 2022.
  • Andrew Berardini, Ovul O. Durmusoglu, Edwin Nasr, Mohammad Salemy, & Nathalie von Veh, “Did Documenta Work? Reflections on Kassel before the Last Days,” Spike Art Magazine, September 5, 2022.
  • Mateusz Sapija, “Field Notes: The Question of Funding, Eltiqa, and Sada [Regroup], Documenta 15,” Art & Education, July 2022.
  • Ben Davis, “Documenta 15’s Focus on Populist Art Opens the Door to Art Worlds You Don’t Otherwise See – and May Not Always Want to,” Artnet News, July 6, 2022.
  • Adrian Searle, “Welcome to the fun house! Sharks, skaters and smelters liven up Documenta 15,” The Guardian, June 23, 2022.
  • Diane Bou Khalil, “Iraqi Artist Bassim Al-Shaker Paints His Own Revolution,” Borderless Magazine, February 2, 2022.

2021

  • Ysabel Pinyol Blasi, “Monira Foundation Presents in Good Company: a Mana Contemporary Chicago Exhibit,” Monira Foundation, December 8, 2021.

2019

  • Rembrandt Quiballo, “Bassim Al Shaker opens Green Leaf Gallery,” JAVA Magazine, March 6, 2019.
  • Lauren Gilger, “Iraqi Artist Opens New Gallery in Phoenix,” KJZZ, February 1, 2019.
  • Lynn Trimble, “Bassim Al-Shaker Curating the New Green Leaf Gallery in Midtown,” Phoenix New Times, January 7, 2019.

2018

  • Jackie Dishner, “Artist of the Month: Bassim Al-Shaker,” Phoenix Magazine, May 1, 2018.

2016

  • Lynn Trimble, “The Paintings of Bassim Al Shaker,” Phoenix New Times, August 25, 2016.
  • Lynn Trimble, “Iraqi Artist Bassim Al-Shaker Brings Babylon Gallery to Roosevelt Row in Phoenix,” Phoenix New Times, August 24, 2016.
  • Lynn Trimble, “Phoenix Artist Bassim Al-Shaker Opens Babylon Gallery in Roosevelt Row,” Phoenix New Times, July 29, 2016.
  • Zara Anvari, “‘Welcome to Iraq’: A Celebration of Iraqi Art at The Venice Biennale,” Culture Trip, January 26, 2016.

2014

  • Troy Farah, “An Iraqi Painter Moved to America for a Better Life and Got Robbed Anyway,” Vice.com, August 25, 2014.
  • Benjamin Sutton, “Iraqi Artist Bassim Al-Shaker’s Phoenix Studio Ransacked,” Artnet News, August 19, 2014.
  • Sophia Kunthara, “Phoenix Police Searching for $70,000 in Stolen Artwork,” azcentral.com, August 18, 2014.
  • Roger Atwood, “How Iraqi Artists are Finding a Path to the International Art World,” Artnews.com, June 26, 2014.
  • “Internationally Renowned Artist Bassim Al-Shaker Shows Current Artwork at 720 Gallery,” Downtown Phoenix Journal, June 6 2014.
  • Kelise Soixante-Douze, “‘Welcome to Iraq’ at South London Gallery – Hospitality you would expect, but the art is not … and that’s a good thing,” Kelise72, April 24, 2014.
  • “Welcome to Iraq, South London Gallery – exhibition review,” Evening Standard, March 31, 2014.
  • “Welcome to Iraq: South London Gallery,” e-flux, March 10, 2014.

2013

  • “Slideshow: Art that Blossomed in a War Zone,” The New York Times, August 29, 2013.
  • Fernanda Santos, “Where an Iraqi Artist Can Paint, and Exhale,” The New York Times, August 29, 2013.
  • Sarah J. Hough, “Iraqi Artist Bassim Al-Shaker Arrives for Museum Residency,” ASU Now: Access, Excellence, Impact, August 13, 2013.
  • “A Time for Change: Bassim al Shaker,” Ruya Foundation, August 11, 2013.
  • David D’Arcy, “Arab Art Rises in Venice Biennale,” The National, June 22, 2013.
  • Sharon Jacobs, “Iraqi Artists are Back on the World Stage,” National Geographic Daily News, June 6, 2013.
  • Amandas Ong, “Welcome to Iraq: Group Show at the 2013 Venice Biennale,” Frame, June 5, 2013.
  • Başak Şenova, “A DREAM: The Iraq Pavilion at 55th Venice Biennale,” Ibraaz, May 30, 2013.
  • Gareth Harris, “The View from Iraq,” Financial Times, May 24, 2013.
  • “Welcome to Iraq: 1 June – 24 November 2013 at Ca’ Dandolo, Venice,” Meer, April 29, 2013.
  • “Iraq Pavilion Artists Unveiled for 55th Biennale di Venezia,” Artlyst, March 21, 2013.