For Dr. Karatay, the founder of the Erguvan Art & Academy, coffee acts as more than a pigment. By employing its natural, earthy tones, he frames the act of sharing a drink as a universal catalyst for friendship and exchange. The artist views his choice of material as a deliberate effort to ground high-level diplomatic discourse in the familiar, sensory experiences that unite people across generations.

The project originated in December 2021 when the portrait was dispatched to Rome alongside a personal letter from the artist. In June 2022, the Pope’s Private Secretariat confirmed receipt, offering formal appreciation for the technique and the underlying message of the piece. This interaction aligns with the mission of Erguvan Art & Academy, a youth-focused movement that recently expanded its physical footprint with a new center in Woodland, California. Through this and other initiatives, Karatay continues to promote his core philosophy that creative expression remains a vital tool for fostering global peace.