Delair Shaker (b. Baghdad, 1971) studied ceramics at the Institute of Fine Arts, Baghdad. His solo exhibitions include The Journey, Solo Art Exhibition, Private Hall, Amman, 2006; Traces of Time, Karim Gallery, Amman, 2008; Tales of Flames, and Olney Room Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona, 2010. International group exhibitions include Al Wasiti Art Festival, Baghdad, 1992, where he won an award for his work; Homage to Shaker Hassan and Ismail Fattah, Athar Gallery, Baghdad, 2004; From Baghdad to New York: Part II of the Iraqi Phoenix Group, Pomegranate Gallery, New York, 2006; Modernism and Iraq, Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, New York, 2009; and Sand Trails, Paul Scott Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona, 2011.

Shaker is the son of prominent ceramicist Saad Shaker (b. Baghdad, 1935-2005) and emigrated to Phoenix, Arizona in 2005, where he lives and works today. Regarding the work he will be exhibiting at Meem, he states: ‘I use form and perceived mass as a metaphor of not only my own journey as an Iraqi artist, but as the journey of my father’s country which I saw in flames.’