Renowned painter Karani Jamil dies at 70 after battle with cancer

ERBIL — Kurdish visual artist Karani Jamil, one of the most celebrated figures in the region’s contemporary art scene, died Tuesday morning in Erbil from complications related to cancer. He was 70.

Jamil had been receiving treatment in a local hospital, but his condition worsened in recent days. He was buried at Sheikh Ahmad Cemetery in Erbil later the same day. His death is being mourned as a significant loss for the Kurdish artistic community.

Born in 1954 in Erbil, Jamil was widely regarded as one of Kurdistan’s most influential painters. He completed his early education locally and earned a diploma in painting from the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad in 1977.

He began his career teaching art in rural primary schools in areas such as Ruste and Nawroyn village in Soran. In 1979, he moved abroad, living in Italy and later Spain, where he spent more than two decades before returning to the Kurdistan Region in 2003.

After his return, Jamil became a key figure in the local art scene. He led the editorial team of Shewakari, an art-focused journal, and taught painting at the Institute of Fine Arts in Erbil.

Jamil’s first solo exhibition was held in 1977 at Ayubia Hall in Erbil. Over his career, he participated in more than 40 group exhibitions in cities including Baghdad, Erbil, Barcelona, Valencia, Brussels, Copenhagen, and Warsaw.

He also operated a personal gallery in Erbil, provided by the Erbil Governorate, which opened in 2023 and showcased a selection of his works.

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