Michael Rakowitz

Who is Michael Rakowitz?

Michael Rakowitz is an Iraqi American Artist, best known for his conceptual art displayed in non-gallery contexts. He is an associate professor at Northwestern University.

Michael Rakowitz conceptual art is deeply political and focuses mostly on the Middle East namely Iraq which is where his family fled from. His artwork expresses a need and a want to discusses issues and make them more relatable.

In Rakowitz project return he reopens his grandfathers import and export business. The company initially functioned as a drop box. In 2005 it became a packaging center and sorting facility. Members of the Iraqi diaspora community and interested citizens were invited to send things to be shipped free of charge to recipients in Iraq. Rakowitz also wanted to explore the possibility of importing things clearly labeled Product of Iraq, he choose dates which were legendary in Iraq, with a yield of over 600 varieties. The first batch he tried to ship died in Syria but the second made its way all the way through different nations and different customs, the dates became a representative for an Iraq refugee traveling to a new life.When they finally made it to Brooklyn there people were eager to try them, this fruit that caused so many problems to get there asked questions and brought up memories.