Samer Hatam

Samer Hatam

Iraqi-born artist Samer Hatam’s work is a mix of both painting and sculpture. His artwork uses graphite on panels, which has gained acclaim for its complex textures and homage to ancient forms.

Born in Iraq, Samer obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts in Painting), from the Academy of Fine Arts in Baghdad in 1989.  He was exposed to countless Mesopotamian masterpieces, which has influenced his work, housed at the Iraq Museum.  The collection there dates from before 9,000 B.C. through the Islamic period. Sadly, the recent conquest of Baghdad has resulted in the destruction and looting of many artworks.

Samer moved to Amman in 1992, where he held his first four solo exhibitions.

In 2004, he immigrated with his family to New Zealand, where he has been studying and pursuing his artistic career. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland in 2008.

Artwork

His art is a celebration of forms and textural experimentation.  He focuses his ideas and techniques in the restructuring of Sumerian shapes, which were the building blocks to man’s earliest modern structures – ziggurats and pyramids. Hatam’s forms wield power in their reference to architectural elements and seem to compose hieroglyphic messages.

Samer Hatam has held exhibitions both in New Zealand and Dubai and his artwork is housed in collections around the world.

Examples of Samer’s work is available from Mobile Art Gallery, 23 Edwin Street, Mt Eden, Auckland