TURKMEN ARTIST NAJIM H. CHECHEN

New York Turkmen Institute

Turkmen Iraqi - American Artist Fosters Healing Through His Art
Benefit Exhibit with artist Najim H. Chechen

Friday May 18 6:00-8:00pm, a Reception will be held for a Humanitarian Relief Benefit Exhibit featuring the sculpture by Iraqi born, Turkmen artist Najim H Chechen and the opening of his show Healing Through Art. This exhibit celebrates the beauty of Turkman culture in Iraq.

Pomegranate Gallery located at: 133 Greet Street, New York, NY
(212) 260-4014 info@turkmeninstitute.org

About the Artist

Najim H. Chechen, born in Kirkuk, Iraq is a Turkmen Iraqi-American who has been living in the US for the past 23 years. He is a professional artist who creates sculpture, pastels and drawings and who has over 30 years experience sculpting and drawing the human figure. Mr. Chechen still has relatives struggling to survive in both his hometown of Kirkuk and Baghdad where he spent his university day. Mr. Chechen earned a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Pratt Institute in 1984 and Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from the Academy of Fine Art, University of Baghdad in 1970. He founded the Fine Art Studios Sculpture Center in Orange County, NY which operates both a year round series of workshops for adults as well as a bronze casting foundry. He is also co-founder of the Hudson Valley Sculptors Society, an organization of sculptors who live and work in the Hudson Valley. Mr. Chechen has exhibited locally, nationally and internationally. He has been awarded numerous awards, scholarships and honors. His work is highly inventive, expressive and playful. ”In this exhibition, my recent works reflect the dreams for the future that Iraqi people have. The moms, dads and kids of Iraq have dreams too, just like everyone else. With my recent sculpture, I aim to represent the invisible spirit and soul and make it visible. All my figures peer out at the world and ask what will follow next. They look with anticipation, with hope. They are vulnerable but they love life and have a will to survive.”