In the search for early history of Fine art appearance in Iraqi Kurdistan, we can clearly notice that Sulaimanyah and Erbil has the biggest involvement. With the fact that Sulaimanyah is not an old city, it has been established by the Babans in 1784, but Sulaimanyah has been playing a highly central role in regards of Political, literary, artistic and social life. We also cannot forget the architectural importance of Erbil's historical castle.
 Hama Kaka (a painter from Sulaimanyah), talks about the beginning of painting work in Sulaimanyah city and says; Sulaimanyah painting history goes back to more than 90 years ago a group of painters from Iran visited Sulaimanyah. After some tours inside the city, they have decided to do some painting work inside Surat Public Bath which all the painting tools were from Iran brought by them. This made people to ask these artist to do painting on the windows and ceiling of their houses. 



Othamn Bag (Artist from Sulaimanyah) who started the beginning of fine art and his early work back to 1900 which  many Arabic Authors mentioned him, such us the author (Jabra Ibrahim Jabra )in book (flood and freedom)  who said: there was a soldier in beginning of twenty century  his name was Othamn Bag  drew  those women who were visiting  Cemetery , though non of his painting is exciting now , but still he is remembered.



But after Othman Bag , An artist appeared from Sulaymanyah by name  (Hassan Falah) who had the oldest picture under name (War of  Bazyan's canyon) which mentioned history  of it back to 1919 , reverse to other Kurdish artistes he began his piece art  from the feet  which this style was the one of sculpture not painting ,  also majirity of his painting drew on wall of sulaymanyah's café ,he had Art work by normal oil color even to the artistic oil color between 1910 to 1976  . he has been used powder which produced from paper in his masterpiece   like the ancient color which brought from Qafqas to paint the old wall's houses . In regards to his filed he worked with Aziz Salem, and Danyal Qasab they opened   joint exhibition, while the French were busy with Doka's Dam Hassen Falah designed Dam's miniature .



We can not forget mentioning the ( Hssen Hussny Mukryane 1890 – 1947)'s personality impact who occupied space in Iraqi Kurdistan even with  he was from east of Kurdistan. He is first who has been worked on graphic art section in Iraqi Kurdistan which means starting Graphic Art with Hussen Mukryany . IN 1925 he has been published  book under name            (  Sprig's Flower ) which included twenty work art has been painted by  Mukryany himself , also he own the first book of art which has been publishe in 1943  by name(carving and photography) mentioned the art of carving and photographic art  and it became first source which hold  language and used it again such    as ( photography, zincograph , drawing tools , fanner, wet ink, lit graphic,….) , also  all the topics has been explained  with Appropriate picture, at the same time  he drew caver of historical social art magazine on name (Krmang's Language ) 



On the other side there was an stunning Jewish artist in Erbil his name was (Danil Qasab 1913 – 2000) , he Played central role in art teacher for many schools in his city  ,his students comprises  (Baper Perdawd, Jawad Rasol, Naji fuad, poet Dldar), at the same time he was one of the artists who worked  over well  Erbil such as  he went to  Baghdad  in 1941 and has been  worked with (Friends of Art)group which display his drawing in Red Crescent hall .
Although he was not academic, but he became a teacher in find art institute in 1948, and in the middle of fifties century he has been relied to Israel.
After graduated from fine art institute, He became Academic naturally, he was the one who designed many of theater in Erbil, the most famous masterpieces of his work were (Erbil's castle,Choman's lighthouse , and     Obed's region ).
 (Aziz Salem 1915 – 2003) was an artist naturally who opened his first exhibition in Shex Jaafer's Cemetery near to University of Sulaimanyah which  exhibited 12 Pictures , the second exhibition has been opend at Galawezh's school  in sulaymanyah 1934, and the first art exhibition in Karkuk has been arranged by Aia Salem , he was one of who generally concerned in portrait and nature, some of his works in portraits were (Hapsaghan naqeb, Shex Mahmood Hafid , Shex Jalal HAfid , Peramerd,.. ect) and ( Shaqlawa , Sarchnar, …)were his nature's work art. This artist has been lived the moment or (experienced) many of his work art .
After appeared an artist by name( Shex Mustafa Barzingi )in 1947 there were (Azad Shawqy , Omer Ali Ameen, and Qadir Kurdy) known as Artists also .
The painter ( Hama Kaka)  About showing  Sulaimanyah artists painting's said: there was a garden named( puplic Garden ) in Sulaimanyah which artists meeting and showing  their drawing  to each other and then  display to people ,  or were exhibited  in some  school's halls  such as  ( Sulaimanyah Elementary  school), but the exhibition which exhibited in( Kchan Elementary school) in 1950 Considered as first show in Sulaymanyah City display period was  10 days  which comprised  all teachers and students' drawing and had many spectators .



(Badeyh Babajan 1923 – 1996) was considered as first student who graduated in Fine art Academically in Baghdad 1945, with the fact that he had many special and wonderful drawing which considered as remarkable history of Kurdish classic poets drawing such as( Nali , Salm, Kurdy , Hareq , Haji Qadiry Koey,… ect) , but he has been produced Iraqi Dinar coins such( 5 files, 10 files, 25 fills , 100 files  , 1 Dinar) although he designed many of art, artists Literary , Kurdish and Iraqi Literary Books ,also he designed  many Literary and Art organization such as Kurdish Authors union in 1970, and ministry of finance officially has been requested him to design Lottery card to all Iraqi people,  then he joined to art's   workshop in Switzerland which he dispatched to  Iraqi government .





He was not the one who studied in Baghdad, there were (Khalid Said, and Azad Shawqy ) after him , the artist  (Khalid Shawqy 1953) graduated from Fine Art institute within these years there were such a remarkable artists who studied in same institute for Postgraduate study , in 1958 he dispatched to Italy for television Décor design  with some Iraqi artists such (Muhammad Ghani,  Sadiq Rabeehh, and Ghanm Mahir) , he employed  in Baghdad Television   after turned  to Iraq   in (1964 –1987) , in middle of (1965) he  has been dispatched to German for the same reason which was Study in Décor art  field, after  he eligibility got (Art Direction) Certification  within year and a half  he came back  to Iraq , because of his success after tow years late  he dispatched to Libya for establishing  Libya's TV station which has took years and a half  ,  nature of Kurdistan has been a great affect of  his inspiration .




Another notable artist was Azad Shawqy who born in 1929, he was teach by great teachers like ( Faeq Hasaan , Ismail Alshekhy m Atta Sabry,  and Faraj abbu, in Baghdad's Fine Art Institute , he became Art Teacher  In 21/ 11/ 1955 in that within this year he designed (Piska Tar beer)'s theater with his classmate artist (Khalid Said) .
We can obviously notice the begging of Art began with natural Artists who has the major involvement History of Fine Art apperance   Iraqi Kurdistan by their natural Sense Art  such of these artists were (Hassan FalahI, Aziz Salem , Hussein Hosni, Anwar Tawfy,  and Jamal Bakhtyar) .



Erbil considered a central role of Art in Kurdistan , there were part of artists with (Danial Qsaba) who  motive for developing this art  suck as ( Jawad Rasool Naji, Ascender Jambaz, monir Qasab, and Sleman Shaker).
In seeking of early history of Fine Art in Kirkuk ,  we can consider  the exhibition of artist( Aziz Salem 1953)in (Yadulla Café) as a beginning of this art , after that  artists( Ahmed KakaSwr, Mdhat Kaki , Aree Baban, Ghazi Muhammad, and Gara Rasool) were considered as  appearance for this Art in the City. Alike with early history of Fine Art in Dhok which began with many Sculpture work by artists( Ahmed Jumaa, Kamal Mlky, and Qadry Haeran)    in the middle of sixty century and beginning of seventy century, but in my opinion Eighty century consider   the appearance  of Fine art  in Dhok  when many Student studied  in Baghdad's Academy,Fne Art institute in Sulaymanyah , and Fine Art institute in, such of these student ( Rashid Ali, Adnan Sheno, Abdulrahman , Majed Klhu, Star Ali, Fazil Yousif , Fahmy Bally, Ismail Azzam , Guhdar Salahadeen, Hameed Sharef, Shahed Salman, Muhammad Ibrahim , Emad Ali Tahir, and Sirwan Shaker) but we also cannot forget the importance of Artist ( Saeedaden saeed Banai)  as a figure of development in Dhok's Art.



Sulaimanyah's Fine Art Institute has been established in 1980  which had strong characters  for developing fine Art in Iraqi Kurdistan, also the activity of schools has another involvement, subsequently   growth this art academically through opening art college in Sulaymanyah and Erbil . From 2000 the study of  M .A. Degree in Fine Art filed were available in University of sulaymanyah which more than 20 students has been  achieved M.A and one student in P.H.D degree in same filed , in Erbil there were five Students could obtain these degrees in College of Art which has been established in 2004.



If compare cities of Kurdistan in Establishing Groups of art we clearly note  that Sulaymanyah has difference in organize Group of artists in beginning of up raise 12/12/ 1991 such group like:  (eight groups  ),( painting friendship groups in 24/9/ 1993), (    groups  in 1992), and  (free painters in 20/ 8 / 1999). Women's painters group by name (the five artist girls)   has been established in 1999 it was comprises (Sakar Faruq, Dalya Murad, Shilan Jabar, Tara Khalid, abd Shulla Selman) artists, and they had first exhibition in Sulaymanyah's Museum from 12 – 16 /2/1999.



Kurdish Artists' Influence in Europe and returning to Kurdistan:
At the early stages one of the first group left the country to Europe were (Badeea Babakhan, Khalid Saeed, then Jamal Bakhtyar, Azeez Salim) . After they came back to homeland they had a positive impact on Artistic movement in Sulaymanyah specifically which is consider to be a leader in that movement, however the brought back an experience that none of the cities of Kurdistan had gone throw it previously.



The participation of Kurdish Artists in artistic exhibition in Europe has been great experience in sulaymanyah's work art, the were( Lala Abda , Atta Qazaz, Smko Tofiq, Aso Sdeeq, Mohammed Arif, Gara, Rebwar Saeed, Wshyar Saeed, Bakhtyar swr, Renas, Bahaden, Awny Samy, Adnan Sheno, Bakhtyar Mustafa, Ramzy Qutbaden, waleed seity, Hewa Abdulla, Ali Latif, Azad Shwaqy, Ismaeel Khyat, Ashna Abdulla, Azad Nanagaly, Dara Hamasaeed, Dara Aram, Daro, Kwestan Jamal, Marewan Jalal, Nahro Shawqy, Salar Majeed, Abdulla Rasool, Othman Qadir, Qarany Jamel, Rebwar Khalid, Rozhgar Mahmood, Shuela Sleman).
The study of contemporary art and brought back these information to Kurdistan by theses Artists left positive effect and appeared balance between the existing an experience and the new one, it specifically notice in Institutes and College of Art in cities even many teachers who has not chance to study in Europe they allow to theses academic people publish their experiences in Kurdistan.
There are several artists who have been influenced on their cities after come backing homeland, for example in Sulaymanyah city there is an artist( rebwar saeed) came back in 2003 who able to changed the style of Art work even doing art project which was not existed before , best of his project were (palette by Color ) it was comprises 65 Artists in Sulaymanyah, Kirkuk, Erbil, and Dhok which this project specified for Halabja's Chemical Bomber and their size works were generally 20 – 20 and 20 – 40 .
The second project of this artist under the name (the Anfal black dress sun) it specified for Anfal's Tragedy, the artists who involved from Sna city Iran, Karkuk, Khanaqen, Dhok, Erbil , the artists were free to chose their Style but specified the sive of work's Project was 20 – 20 and were participated 119 artists .
Each of environment project and Benefits of children's experience were enriched by the participation of different artists from different ages and levels. Sulaimanyah Contemporary museum was supported by Rebwar Saeed which through it many Kurdish artists whom lived in Europe has been invited to come back to Kurdistan and specifically to College of Art at Sulaimanyah university, in order to give lectures to students. This was another factor in raising student's intellectuality.
Returning the artist ( Qaranu Jamel )from Spain to Erbil has important impact to activate Fine Art in that city first Magazine of Fine Art was establishes by Qarany Jameel which till now in progress, also he interested in young Artists wherever they owned their Arts' project in Erbil.
The artist (Adnan Sheno, and Awny Sami)who came backto Dhok had central role for Artists specially the students of Fine Art in Dhok, Adnan as An experience Artists has been established the biggest project in Dhok which is sculpture masterpiece, however he was caused to encouraging Teachers and students in that City .
Another Artist ( Awny Samy ) who Studied Graphic in Holland , he was one of the factor which Graphic movement have Biggest Scientific forward in that City , Graphic Section has been Supported by Awny Samy in Dhok which has Typically change in that section .
We can say the returning these artists to their Country(Homeland) can be a reason for developing and forwarding art to scientific level and found many Art project which are not thinking or doing it before, also the Artist ( Ali Jola) is the one who graduated from Academy of Fine Arts in Baghdad 1966,and coming (ismaeel Khayat ) to Sulaymanyah has especially impact .



Establishing Groups of Art , Galary and Artists' organization in early up raise has another characteristics of Sulaymanyah , for example in 1983 the Kurdish Artist' organization has been established in mountain after that they activated in Cities, also opening (Salar Majeed , and Zamwa) galleries in 2005 , Sulaymanyah Gallery in 1995, (Amna Swraka Gallery) in 2003, Aram Gallery in 2004, Sardam Gallery in 2006, also establishing (eight Group)in 1991 which at begging comprises ( Hawre Anwar , Bakhtyar Qaftan, Araz Hama, Kamal Ali, Khasraw Huseen, Muhammed Fata7, Swaad Star) then after the first Exhibition Kamal Ali Has been replached by Ako Ghareb) in that time they displayed five exhibition in Sulaymanyah, Erbil, Dhok Cities , (Gizng) art Group has been established by (Dlshad Ali, Shko Ali, Bakir, Muhammed Nawras, Hawre Muhammed) in 1992 , after that another group established under the name( ) in 1993 which supported by( Saman Rash, Sarbast Omer), (Free Artist) group established in Sulaymanyah 1988 which comprised( Bahadeen Mahmood, Jabar Saber, Saman, Abdulkhaleq, Chnar Abdulkhaleq, Ronak Othman , Tofiq Mohammed, Taha Omer, Hawar Majeed, Hewa Saeed).
Girls' Artist group in Sulaymanya has been gave special characteristics to women Arts' work in City their activity started with opening Women Artist's Exhibition which this idea belonged to the artist( Mohammed Fatah) supported by Directorate of Cutler in Sulaymanya which was opening exhibition in 8 Mars(Woman's Day)'s of every years , yet ( five Artists Girl) group has been established in 1999 which comprise (Sakar Farwq, Dalya Morad, Shilan Jabar, Tara Khalid, Shula Sleman) they opened three exhibition in years( 1999 – 2000 – 2001), after that (Sunflower group) established which comprised( Sakar Faruq, Dalya Morad, Shilan Jabar, Tara Khalid, Shula Sleman) they opened two Exhibition in Europe .
(Arbilla Gallery) has been opened in erbil 1995, which continued their work till 3 years, also (Rozh Gallery ) opened by the Artist ( Nameq Ali) ' then he opened (Are Gallery) with artist( Burhan Saber)in 1989 inside Erbil's Castle. Yet (Kurdistan Gallery )has beenn opened in 1999. (Koya Gallery ) was opened in 2004 which supervised by( Hama Hashem) . In Dhok there was ( Dhok Gallery) which has been established in 1989.