Hajj Wafaa was born and raised in Iraq. At the age of 12, I became interested in learning calligraphy, aspiring to write the words or verses of the Holy Book, the Quran, and its stanzas. Since then, I was trained by some of the best calligraphers in my region, such as Jasim Hamood Al-Najafi, and Adnan Al-Kazaz an inspired by the Great Master Hamid Al-Aamidi. Thanks to their tutelage, I have become a master in many styles of traditional scripts such as Naskh, Diwani, Jili-diwani, Kufic, Thuluth.
In 1998, I moved to the US. I earned my AAS in graphic and web design in 2008 from Sanford-Brown College (Katherine Gibbs College previously), Boston. Since my graduation and I have been teaching Arabic calligraphy courses at Al-Noor Academy in Mansfield and Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, while running calligraphy workshops in many institutions and venues throughout Massachusetts. I also run my own business, Kufa Calligraphy Supply Store, which supports my classes by providing the students with the supplies they need for this art form. Additionally, I’ve showcased my art in Boston area exhibits at: Arts at the Armory in Somerville, MA, and in Watertown, MA with the support of UMass Boston at The Arsenal Center for the Arts.
