Artist Talk: Wafaa Bilal and Post-Conflict Iraq

We are delighted to welcome internationally renowned artist Wafaa Bilal to ISAC for a special program on the occasion of his first major survey exhibition, , on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA) from February 1 to October 19, 2025.

During this event, Bilal will present an overview of his performative and interactive works featured in this exhibition—including Domestic Tension and Lamassu (In a Grain of Wheat)—as well as his broader artistic exploration of cultural destruction, international politics, and Iraqi history and heritage. Bilal will then be joined by ISAC Museum curator Kiersten Neumann, whose work addresses the material culture of ancient Iraq and its endangered heritage, for a thought-provoking conversation that delves deeper into the themes explored in Bilal’s practice. This event will be held in the ISAC Museum’s Khorsabad Court, where the monumental sculpture of the Assyrian Lamassu will serve as a compelling point of dialogue.

Attendees are further encouraged to visit the exhibition Wafaa Bilal: Indulge Me at the MCA.

This program is free for ISAC Members and UChicago students and $10 for the general public.

Photos 1 and 2 courtesy of Wafaa Bilal

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, 1155 E 58th St, Chicago, United States