Born into a family of Iraqi artists in Turkey, Salim enjoyed making her art from an early age. She was enrolled on the Baghdad Fine Arts Institute where she studied painting and graduated with distinction. Owing to her hard work and passion for art, she became one of the first women to be awarded a scholarship to continue her education in Paris at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. In Paris, Salim specialized in fresco and mural painting. After graduating, she spent several years abroad, immersing herself in art and culture.
Eventually, she returned to Baghdad to work at the Fine Arts Institute where she would teach until retirement. She was active in Iraq’s arts community and one of the founding members of Al-Ruwwad, a community of artists that study abroad and incorporate European art techniques into the Iraqi aesthetic. Salim has also authored the book Iraq: Contemporary Art, an important resource for the early development of the country’s modern art movement.
Today’s Google Doodle also celebrates St. George's day by remembering England’s patron saint St. George, who is famous for legends that depict him slaying a dragon to save a princess.