About

Huner Emin is a stateless multimedia Kurdish artist based in Bloomington, Indiana. Originally from south Kurdistan/northern Iraq, his work has been exhibited internationally, including at the CICA Museum of Art in South Korea, Agora Gallery in NYC, and Duhok Gallery of Art in Kurdistan/Iraq. Emin has received numerous awards, including the Dehaan Artist of Distinction Award, DC Art Commission fellowship, and Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grant.

Emin studied Western classical art in Erbil, Iraq, and earned an M.F.A. in Studio Art, Painting from Marywood University in the United States. Since leaving Iraq in 2013 due to political and social issues, he has not returned. During the Arab Spring, his performance piece “Geruk,” which questioned governmental power and political dogma, led to his arrest twice between 2011 and 2013. In 2017, he created “Blood Washing,” addressing honor killings, first exhibited at the Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art at Marywood University.

Emin’s work continues to reflect his lived experiences and broader concerns in the Middle East, exploring themes such as the Anfal genocide (“180,000 Seconds”), Iraq War atrocities (“Manufactured Democracy 2021–2024”), and ISIL crimes (“Testimonies from Mount Sinjar”).