I am a contemporary ceramic artist with a background in fine arts. I graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Baghdad in 1994, specializing in ceramics.
My connection with art began at an early age. I was naturally drawn to colour, handmade objects, and anything that sparked my imagination and creativity. As I moved through school, this early curiosity developed into a deeper passion for artistic expression, eventually leading me to pursue formal studies in fine arts.
Rawa Al Mahdawi’s artistic journey and ceramic practice have been featured in the press, highlighting her unique approach to clay, sculptural form, and creative expression. Through her exploration of texture, balance, and material, her work reflects a distinctive artistic vision shaped by experience, experimentation, and a deep connection to the art of ceramics.
While ceramics remains at the heart of my artistic practice, my creative work also extends to painting, particularly oil and acrylic, reflecting my broader interest in visual art and different forms of artistic expression.
Alongside my artistic practice, I have experience teaching art in schools and leading creative workshops for both children and adults.
Having lived in and experienced different cities across the Middle East and Europe, I have been exposed to diverse cultures, environments, and artistic traditions that have enriched my perspective and creative journey.
My artistic practice explores the sculptural possibilities of clay through form, texture, and balance.
I am interested in creating ceramic forms that move beyond function to become expressive sculptural works.
Through hand-building and experimentation, I allow the material and the making process to guide each piece, creating a dialogue between structure, movement, and surface.
Glazing is an important part of this experimentation. The materials I use can produce unexpected and striking results that are difficult to replicate in another piece.
This unpredictability gives each work its own character, making every piece truly unique.
A collection of sculptural works exploring the expressive possibilities and natural character of clay.
