Rushdi has degrees from the Institute of Kirkuk-Kurdistan, and the Enmore Design Centre in Sydney; further completing a Masters of Fine Art, and a Doctorate of Philosophy Art (PhD), at RMIT University in 2016, with a thesis on 'The Search for Meaning: Material and Form in Context of Socio-political Issues'.
He has held solo and group exhibitions widely in Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, France, Japan, Kurdistan, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, USA and Vietnam.
Exhibitions include: Project 'Intercambio': the 13th Havana Biennial 2019, Cuba. The National 2019: New Australian Art, Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW). MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum, Chiang Mai, Thailand (2019). The 12th Gwangju Biennale 2018, Gwangju, South Korea. 'Temporary Certainty' 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Sydney (2018). Project: 'What's Left Behind', Contribution and Collaboration with artist Brook Andrew, 21st Biennale of Sydney 2018, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Art and Artists: Public Galleries Summit 2018, Carriageworks, Sydney (2018). 20th JAALA International, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (2017). 'Forever Transformed', Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne (2017). Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne Festival 2017. Human Rights Arts & Film Festival (2017 and 2015). MARC Gallery, Melbourne (2017). The Artist Project: Contemporary Art Fair, Toronto, Canada (2016). Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia (2014). JAALA, Kawasaki City Museum, Kawasaki, Japan (2014). "3 X 3" Project, the National Gallery Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand (2013). 'Landlock' Exhibition, Casula Powerhouse Art Centre, Sydney, Australia (2013). 'Hanging Issues', Ne Na Contemporary Art Space, Chiang Mai, Thailand (2014). Immigration Museum, Melbourne, Australia (2010).
He has received grants and award from Australia Council for the Arts (2018, 2016 and 2011); Creative Victoria's VicArts Grants program (2016); The Artist Project: Contemporary Art Fair, Installation Zone Award, Toronto, Canada (2016); Australia-Thailand Institute (ATI) (2012, 2014), Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) (2012).
Residencies include RMUTT University- Thailand (2017), Ne Na Contemporary Art Space, Chiang Mai-Thailand (2012 and 2015) and Casula Powerhouse Art Centre, Sydney (2013). Anwar's works are held in collections of the Australian War Memorial Contemporary Collection in Canberra; Da Nang Fine Arts Museum collections, Da Nang, Vietnam; The Kurdistan Regional Government, The Ministry of Arts and Culture, Slemani- Kurdistan and in private collections in Kurdistan and Australia.
He has facilitated, curated and delivered numerous exhibitions, forums and lectures at Universities and various galleries and art spaces, including the 'Hua Krathi Project' at Federation Square, Melbourne, 2013, and the recent workshop 'Concepts of Injury and Repair' at the Australian Center for Contemporary Art (ACCA), Melbourne, 2017.
Following several artist-in-residence programs in Thailand, he co-founded and co-coordinated the Australian Thai Artist Interchange, Melbourne (2012 - 2016), an organisation founded to enhance cross-cultural exchange, awareness and appreciation of art and culture between Thais and Australians.
Rushdi is a founding member, with Brook Andrew and Shiraz Bayjoo, of the artist collective "The Working Collection".