Ruya Foundation


The Ruya Foundation, or Ruya Foundation for Contemporary Culture in Iraq, is an Iraqi registered not-for-profit, non-governmental organization. Founded in 2012, Ruya Foundation's board is made up of Tamara Chalabi, Reem Shather-Kubba, and Shwan Ibrahim Taha.

Exhibitions

Ruya Foundation's exhibition programme comprises work by Iraqi artists in a variety of media: sculpture, painting, installation, video and photography. The organisation does not have a permanent collection, but a revolving exhibition programme onsite at its Ruya Shop location on Mutanabbi Street, Baghdad.
DateExhibitionArtists
2013Welcome to Iraq, curated by Jonathan Watkins.Abdul Raheem Yassir, Akeel Khreef, Ali Samiaa, Bassim Al-Shaker, Cheeman Ismaeel, Furat al Jamil, Hareth Alhomaam, Jamal Penjweny, Kadhim Nwir, Yaseen Wami, Hashim Taeeh
2015Invisible Beauty, curated by Philippe Van Cauteren.Latif al-Ani, Akam Shex Hadi, Rabab Ghazoul, Salam Atta Sabri and Haider Jabbar.
2017Archaic, curated by Tamara Chalabi and Paolo Colombo.Sherko Abbas, Sadik Kwaish Alfraji, Francis Alÿs, Ali Arkady, Luary Fadhil, Shakir Hassan Al Said, Nadine Hattom, Jawad Saleem, Sakar Sleman
2019Fatherland: Serwan Baran, curated by Tamara Chalabi and Paolo Colombo.Serwan Baran

Projects

Ruya Foundation maintains a database of Iraqi artists.
The Foundation has published Ruya Notebooks since 2017. A monograph on the work of Iraqi photographer Latif al-Ani which they co-published won the Historical Book Award at Les Rencontres d’Arles in 2017.

RUYA MAPS

In 2018, Ruya Foundation launched a sister organisation, RUYA MAPS. The UK registered charity was established to address specific needs, identified by the Ruya Foundation whilst carrying out its unique work in Iraq, that were found to be applicable internationally. It is led by Tamara Chalabi.