Halim Al-Karim (b. Najaf, 1963) holds a BA in Ceramics from the Academy of Fine Arts, Baghdad, (1988) and a BA from Gerrit Reitveld Academy, Amsterdam (2000). He has held numerous solo exhibitions including French Cultural Center, Amman, 1993, Fibeitt Gallery, Amsterdam, 2000, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder, 2007, XVA Gallery, Dubai 2009, and Darat Al Funun, Amman, 2010. He has also participated in group exhibitions, festivals and biennales including Salon d’Automne, Sursock Museum, Beirut, 1994; Musée des Metiers de Mercure, Larochelle, 1997; Paul Klee Museum, Bern, 2009; Saatchi Gallery, 2009; and Peripheral Vision, Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, 2010. His work is held in public collections including Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, Mathaf: Arab Musuem of Modern Art, Doha, Royal Association of Fine Arts, Amman, Saatchi Gallery, London, Sovereign Art Foundation, Hong Kong; Sursock Museum, Beirut, and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Regarding his art, Al-Karim has stated: ‘My works dwell on the evolving mentality of urban society. I am concerned with ongoing and unresolved issues, specifically those that relate to violence – the kinds which are generated through corrupt, political agendas of society’s leaders.’ He lives and works in Denver, Colarado and Dubai.