Mohammed Ghani Hikmat; one of the most celebrated and beloved Iraqi sculptors of the 20th century. Ghani was not only an icon of Iraqi modern art but also an important advocate of the preservation of Iraq's cultural heritage. Hikmat became one of the most influential figures in the Baghdad Group of Modern Art founded by his mentors and friends Jewad Selim and Shakir Hassan Al Said.


He studied at the Institute of Fine Art in Baghdad before being granted a state scholarship to study at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome, graduating in 1959. Whilst he was in Italy, Ghani also studied metals at the Instituto di Zaka in Florence, specializing in casting bronze. Subsequently, Ghani returned to Baghdad and taught s...