Salah was born and raised in Bokan, in Eastern Kurdistan, where his earliest connection to art began. After immigrating to Canada in the summer of 1990, he continued to nurture a quiet but persistent passion for drawing. As a young artist, he worked almost exclusively with pen and pencil, spending countless hours sketching from art books—guided and inspired by his older brother.
Entirely self-taught, Salah’s artistic journey evolved naturally toward oil painting, a medium in which he found both depth and resonance. Since 2015, he has devoted himself to the study of the human figure and portraiture, drawn to the subtle language of expression and the emotional weight carried within a face. More recently, his work has expanded to include birds of prey—subjects that embody power, grace, and an almost timeless presence in Kurdish culture—allowing him to explore a different, yet equally compelling, form of beauty.
Rooted in classical painting traditions, Salah’s work is driven by a search for beauty and emotional truth. Each piece reflects a quiet dialogue between artist and subject, where form, light, and feeling converge. All of the paintings presented here are original works.
Now based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. Alongside his career as a professional photographer, he continues to deepen his commitment to fine art oil painting, dedicating more of his time to commissioned portraits and the ongoing exploration of his artistic voice.

CV:
May-July 2024 - Solo exhibition presented by Hello Art and Collier International, Toronto, Ontario
September 2022 - Richmond Hill Art Walk, Richmond Hill, Ontario
-March 2018 - Solo art Exhibition, Skylight Gallery, Town of Aurora
-November 2017 - Richmond Hill Group of Artist; York Region Open Juried Art Show, The Mill Pond Gallery
-May 2016 - First Place, Society of York Region Artists Juried Art Show, Town of Aurora
-September 2015 & Richmond Hill Group of Artist Group Show, The Mill Pond Gallery
-May 2015 - Spring Fling – Richmond Hill Group of Artist & Group Exhibition, The Mill Pond Gallery

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

I am an artist in transition, moving from the immediacy of photography into the depth and materiality of oil painting. My practice is rooted in observation—shaped by years behind the lens—but it is through paint that I find my true voice. Photography taught me how to see; painting allows me to interpret, to slow time, and to transform what is observed into something felt.
I am drawn to subjects that hold a quiet but undeniable presence: human faces and birds of prey. Portraiture offers a space to explore subtle emotional tension—the interplay between vulnerability and strength, stillness and inner life. In contrast, eagles, hawks, and falcons embody instinct, precision, and command. Though distinct, these subjects share an intensity that resists indifference and asks to be witnessed.
Working in oil, I build each painting through layers of texture and light, moving beyond likeness toward sensation. My focus lies in the moments just before action—the stillness before flight, the weight of a gaze, the suggestion of something unfolding beneath the surface. Detail becomes a language through which presence is constructed, not merely described.
In my depictions of birds of prey, particularly eagles, I seek to shift perception away from symbolism alone and toward individuality. While these animals are often seen as emblems of power and freedom, I approach them as living beings with agency, vulnerability, and quiet authority. By isolating them within the frame, I invite a more intimate encounter—one that encourages reflection rather than distance.
This work is not a departure from photography, but an evolution of it. It extends my engagement with the world from capturing what is seen to expressing what is experienced. At its core, my practice is an ongoing study of attention and respect—an attempt to honor both the visible and the intangible, and to create space for a deeper connection between subject and viewer.