Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part C (2025)

This research aims to reveal the ways in which Islamic architectural elements were employed in Iraqi visual art, not merely as formal or decorative elements, but rather as expressive media carrying cultural and intellectual messages and connotations. From here, the research problem arises in the following question: How did Islamic architectural elements contribute to shaping the expressive dimension of Iraqi visual art? The importance of this research stems from its attempt to uncover the formulas through which Islamic architectural heritage is re-employed within the Iraqi visual arts space. This highlights the dialectic between authenticity and modernity and demonstrates how Islamic architectural symbols can be transformed into living expressive tools in modern visual discourse. The research also sheds light on the Iraqi artist's awareness of his cultural role by evoking the Islamic visual heritage and activating it within contemporary visions and methods, opening the way for a deeper understanding of the transformations of visual identity in Iraqi art. The research relies on a descriptive approach (content analysis) that combines historical tracing, analysis of selected artistic models, and an aesthetic approach to reveal the expressive dimensions of Islamic architectural elements. Minarets, gates, and decorations appear as central elements in the works, not as aesthetic backgrounds, but rather as carriers of spiritual and philosophical connotations that reflect the continuity of Islamic identity. The three samples employ traditional architectural vocabulary in a contemporary format, embodying a visual and intellectual bridge between the past and the present.