Born in New York of Iraqi parents. He has held solo exhibitions in Baghdad, Amman, Bahrain and Dubai and has participated in group shows in a number of Arab cities as well as in the USA and the UK. After completing degrees in Engineering in Baghdad and Building Management in London, his return to Iraq coincided with the start of the Iran-Iraq war. Five years of service, witnessing countless atrocities and injustices led him to start painting.  What began as a therapeutic exercise developed into a passion, and Ata has since built a solid international reputation, participating in exhibitions in Washington DC, San Francisco, Cairo, Kuwait, Dubai, Switzerland, and most notably at the British Museum's, "Word into Art,"  in 2006.

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