Renowned for his technical precision, Athar is a sculptor whose work exhibits a deep respect for classical sculpture, which he approaches with contemporary sensibility. Born to Iraqi parents in Rome, he creates formally exquisite sculptural works that follow aesthetic tradition and reflect on the violence plaguing the Middle East. These drawings made in 2009-2010 constitute the preliminary works for a series of sculptures entitled Broken Bodies. Carved in the traditional medium of Carrara marble, the sculptures—and preliminary drawings—portray the body adopting twisted distorted postures, suggesting both beauty and violence. In 2007, Athar earned a Bachelor of Visual Art from the Royal Academy of Antwerp and a Masters in 2008. He has exhibited in numerous shows throughout Europe and received several awards in Belgium for his work. He is a professor of sculpture at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium.