Portrait shop in Sulaymaniyah turns political icons into local draw

SULAYMANIYAH – A small shop tucked into a corner of Sulaymaniyah’s Sarai market has become a local attraction for its crowded wall of portraits depicting political leaders and cultural figures.

The shop, run by artist Hardi Khalil, displays paintings of former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Che Guevara, Kurdish singer Ahmet Kaya, and renowned Kurdish poet Sherko Bekas. Hardi said many visitors are drawn to the handmade works rather than photographs.

“Many people prefer portraits and handmade paintings over photos because they believe they carry spirit and life,” he told 964media.

Hardi produces each piece by hand at his shop, working from customer requests. “I’ve drawn so many portraits that nothing new catches my eye anymore,” he said. “But I have to keep going because people keep requesting them.” He said he pays close attention to detail and added, “I can reproduce the portraits exactly as they are.”

While some customers ask for portraits of themselves or their children, many order images of well-known local or international personalities. The steady demand has turned his personal passion into daily work, he said.

“If you don’t have the passion, you can’t draw a portrait,” he said. “But once it becomes your job, it gets difficult. There are days when I just don’t have the energy to paint, unless someone places an order.”