Nawal Alsadon (b. 1953) is a prominent Iraqi-born artist whose prolific career spans over four decades and multiple continents. Born in Baghdad and trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bucharest, Romania, Alsadon represents a generation of Iraqi artists who have successfully integrated deep-rooted historical motifs with contemporary global narratives.

Often described by critics as a "rebellious spirit," Alsadon’s work is a powerful exploration of the human body, identity, and "alien geography". Her aesthetic is deeply influenced by her Sumerian heritage, frequently featuring evocative, ancient-inspired faces that look out from her canvases with a mixture of anger and resilience. Her art does not merely reflect history; it challenges the boundaries of rules and traditions, using a diverse range of mediums including graphics, photography, and ceramics.

Having lived and worked in Denmark, Syria, and Yemen, Alsadon’s art serves as a visual record of displacement and memory. Whether through her haunting graphic elegies or her poignant installations—such as her work featuring traditional lunchboxes inscribed with names—she captures the silent stories of those in the diaspora.

Her distinguished career has been marked by exhibitions in world-class institutions from the National Museum in Copenhagen to the Station Museum of Contemporary Art in Houston. In 2018, her immense contribution to Iraqi culture was officially recognized when she was awarded the prestigious Al-Wasiti Shield.