Born in Mosul, Iraq 1954. Khlief studied and graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Baghdad obtaining his B.F.A. 1972 – 1976. Mahmoud held several solo and group exhibitions in Iraq and abroad and won many Awards. He lives in the city of Mosul working as an art professor of fine art in the College of Fine Arts at the University of Mosul. Khlief is also a member of the Iraqi Plastic Artists Association and the Iraq Artists Syndicate.