About Muntadher Saleh

Muntadher Saleh is a Polymath. He is a writer, artist, designer, and pharmacist from Iraq who channels an immense attention to detail to innovate and bring new possibilities to the world of art. He aims for his artwork to be remembered as his legacy, a permanent mark in the history of art.

Early Life, Activism, and Artistic Purpose

Muntadher Saleh (1999-Present), an Iraqi Polymath and Neo-Pop artist, is best known for his compelling works in digital media and other forms like paper and wood. Born to a well-educated family in Al Diwaniyah, his journey was profoundly shaped by his activism during the 2019 Iraqi protests. This experience ignited a fire to use art not just for aesthetics, but as a tool for memorialization and social commentary.

The Immortal Martyr: Art as Memorial

His most poignant series, “The Immortal Martyr” was born from this period. He created unique artworks about the iconic martyrs of the revolution, who were killed simply because they “wanted a homeland.” The pieces were special because they were digitally drawn portraits made from the martyrs’ own words.

Muntadher undertook a form of digital archaeology, diving deep into their social media accounts to collect their posts, morals, and beliefs. Guided by his own powerful quote, “We are nothing but uttered words,” he reconstructed their faces from their own words in a dramatic style that forces the viewer to focus deeply, to read and see who these people truly were. This series is a powerful testament to art’s ability to preserve a legacy.

A Career-Changing Moment: Iraq Typography

In December 2019, Muntadher created an artwork that would change his career. He called it “Iraq Typography,” a highly complicated piece where the map of Iraq is formed entirely from interwoven Arabic letters. Its unique appeal made it pop, and many companies selling printed designs reached out to him. He turned down most, agreeing to work as the chief artist for a local company and another in the United Kingdom. In the first five months alone, over 1,000 merchandise items featuring the design were sold.

This success was met with challenges that fueled his resolve. A journalist who contacted him for an interview was later told the chief editor disallowed it, dismissively stating, “It’s digital design, everyone can do it.” This moment of disappointment became a challenging turning point for Muntadher Saleh, inspiring him to take his art to new levels with different styles and to prove the depth of his craft in art gallery shows, fairs, and events of all sizes.

Artistic Evolution: From Lines to Layers

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Muntadher used his art to respond to the global crisis, creating posters for his Instagram account encouraging people to stay home. This period yielded some of his most emotional works, like the powerful “Save Me” depicting a hand begging for survival while vanishing, and “Please Stay,” about the isolation of those infected.

From Lines Art to New Styles

One of the first styles the Iraqi Polymath Muntadher Saleh used was Line Art. His 2018 “Colosseum Line Art” was one of his first pieces, followed by intricate line art works of the Mona Lisa and the Statue of David. He continued this style in 2019 with portraits of Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, and Che Guevara. In 2020, he created line art of Marilyn Monroe, the Statue of Liberty, and Van Gogh, but felt an artistic pull to evolve beyond this single style.

The Birth of 3D Layered Art

On May 2, 2020, Muntadher truly embraced his identity as a polymath when he began to combine digital art with traditional media. He explored 3D layered art, a rare style practiced by only a few artists worldwide. After creating digital self-portraits and a piece for Marilyn Monroe, he decided to craft this style from wood. His initial attempts were not correct, and he spent a whole year researching and refining the right method.

Finally, on April 15, 2021, he perfected the technique. His first major success was an artwork of the legendary Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, titled “3D Zuha.” This piece, one of his most valuable, marked his first true success in combining the worlds of art and became a cornerstone of his portfolio, leading to private commissions for political figures.

Pushing Boundaries: The Origami Art Path

After his success with 3D layers, Muntadher Saleh sought another form of combination. He found it in a new style made from folded book pages in the Origami style. He learned the rules of origami and began designing patterns to fold his way into this new artistic path. One of his most successful works was his country’s map in the origami style, making him the first in Iraq to do this type of art. The piece garnered over 180,000 views on his Instagram account and led to an interview in a local newspaper.

He created another piece in this style for the Arabic word for ‘Freedom,’ which brought him to the attention of the Iraqi Artists Syndicate in his governorate. They asked to hang his “3D Zuha” artwork in their building and invited him to hold a personal art gallery showcasing his unique paper and 3D artworks, by which they were truly impressed.

The Philosophy of an Artist: A Voice for the Greats

“What if we can read the mind of the great people just about before they getting great? The moment that changed their lives? Can we take some of their greatness?”

This question, posed by Muntadher about his piece “Van Gogh Thoughts” encapsulates his artistic purpose. The artwork is made from Van Gogh’s letters to his brother Theo, his own face, and his famous “The Starry Night.” It represents the moment just before Van Gogh created the masterpiece that would make him immortal. For Muntadher Saleh, the purpose of art is not about money; it’s about immortality and how people fall in love with your work years after you are gone.

Gallery Highlights

Explore the Art of Muntadher Saleh

The Iraqi Polymath is currently working on paper folding artworks about the ancient civilization of Iraq, including historical monuments like Ishtar Gate and the ancient Lamassu, for his collection on Iraqi history. He continues to create new artworks and pioneer new styles, which he posts on his Instagram account. You can contact him to commission a special piece of art.