1924 Artist Abduljabbar Al-Banna was born in Baghdad, in a locality called Bab Al-Sheikh in Iraq. It is said that he did not cry when he was born, so his family thought he was dead.
1953 The artist was imprisoned in Baghdad Central Prison due to his political activities against the government and his affiliation with leftist movements at that time. Nevertheless, he kept practicing the art of sculpting and made a portrait-sculpture of the director of the prison’s hospital, Dr. Muzaffar Ali. This act gave him an advantage in getting special treatment!
1954-1959 He studied and graduated from the Fine Arts Institute, in Baghdad.
He was one of the closest students of the late Jewad Selim and he accompanied him closely during the study period. Jewad praised him on every occasion but he kept his own style despite being influenced by his teacher.
1964 The artist traveled to Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to teach sculpture at the Teachers House. He stayed there for four years.
1969 He held his first solo exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art in Baghdad.
He was appointed as the head of the technical department at the University of Baghdad in the Natural History Museum.
1982 He began his teaching duties as a professor of sculpture in the evening section of the Institute of Fine Arts.
1974 He held his second solo exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art in Baghdad.
1977 He participated in the fourth ‘Art Exhibition on the anniversary of the ruling Party’ at the National Museum of Modern Art in Baghdad.
1978 He held his third solo exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art in Baghdad.
1987 He held his fourth solo exhibition at Baghdad Gallery in the subsidiary of the Department of Fine Arts in Baghdad.
1992 He held his fifth solo exhibition at the Ain Art Gallery in Baghdad.
1996 He held his sixth solo exhibition at Hewar Gallery in Baghdad.
1998 He held his seventh solo exhibition at the Art Department Center in Baghdad.
2000 He held his eighth solo exhibition at the Art Department Center in Baghdad.
2002 He held his ninth solo exhibition at Al-Orfali Gallery in Amman.
2009 A retrospective exhibition was held at Akkad Gallery in Baghdad.
2014 He participated in the Plastic Art Festival in the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Iraqi Communist Party at Hiwar Art Gallery.
30 September 2016, the artist passed away in Baghdad at the age of ninety-two.
Among his works are the eighty folk art pieces displayed in the Al-Baghdadi Museum. He participated in many activities of the Fine Artists Association and the National Museum of Modern Art.
