Remembering Nashad
Sulaymaniyah artist dies days before scheduled exhibition
SULAYMANIYAH — Mohammed Sabir, a celebrated painter and cultural icon in Sulaymaniyah, died at the age of 75 on Tuesday, following a prolonged battle with prostate cancer and heart disease.
Known by his local nickname “Nashad,” meaning unhappy in Kurdish, Sabir was a figure on the arts scene in Sulaymaniyah for over 50 years.
Sculptor Chinar Nizar spoke to 964media about Sabir’s recent health struggles, noting that his condition had been deteriorating for the past three months. “The nursing home was incredibly supportive during this difficult time,” Nizar added.
Sabir exhibited his work around the world and aimed to reflect the Kurdistan Region’s natural beauty in his pieces.
From a young age, he was deeply enamored with painting, a passion that did not wane, even as he confronted financial and physical challenges. In an 2023 interview with 964media Sabir said, “Now, I paint to afford my medical treatments.”
Sabir died just days before a scheduled exhibition at a local nursing home on May 11, where 99 of his paintings were to be displayed.
“What hurts me is that we can’t hold the exhibition scheduled for Saturday because he died,” Nizar, his friend and fellow artist said.