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# When I Close My Eyes
- URL: https://www.cascadepbs.org/show/independent-lens/specials/when-i-close-my-eyes-jf3ti5/
- Published: 2024-06-21T15:30:37.000Z
- Updated: 2025-08-21T05:48:15.000Z
- Description: Oil painter Samir Khurshid's work reflects his tumultuous Iraq childhood and refugee life.
- Author: Cascade PBS Staff
- Tags: Independent Lens, #ZZZ_Show_0b7db2c5-17c9-47e3-a2fa-022bad749896, #v1.7, #ZZZ_Special_3cdb9884-ef3a-4a5c-8511-ea3d7ff38ec2, #special

His ability to paint portraits of Saddam Hussein likely saved his life. Oil painter Samir Khurshid reflects on his own tumultuous life growing up surrounded by death and chaos in war-torn Iraq. His densely layered work is heavily influenced by both the cross-cultural chaos of life as a refugee in the U.S. as well as his past, modern religion, ancient mythology, politics, and daily emotional life.