Modern and Contemporary Art in Iran
Encyclopedia
A cursory glance at the history of art
reveals that social, political and economic conditions have always played a major role in the emergence of new artistic currents and styles. In Iran
, the social and political developments of the 1940s radically altered the evolution of this country’s plastic arts and entirely altering its natural path.
The modern art movement
in Iran had its genesis in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This was the period after the death of famous Persian painter, Kamal-ol-molk
(1852–1940) and thus symbolically the end of a rigid adherence to academic painting.
The 1949 opening of the Apadana gallery in Tehran
, and the emergence of artists like Marcos Grigorian
in the 1950s, signaled a commitment to the creation of a form of modern art grounded in Iran.
In 1977, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art
opened, boasting an important collection of both Western
and Iran
ian artists.
Iranian art is shared among people of Iranian cultural continent
and is not limited to modern Iran. Modern art is emerging in Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Iraqi Kurdistan. In Afghanistan, Rahraw Omarzad
, founded Center for Contemporary Art Afghanistan (CCAA) in 2004. Also, a museum of modern art is under construction in Iraqi Kurdistan. Here is a list of notable figures of Iranian modern art throughout the Iranian cultural continent:
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
reveals that social, political and economic conditions have always played a major role in the emergence of new artistic currents and styles. In Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, the social and political developments of the 1940s radically altered the evolution of this country’s plastic arts and entirely altering its natural path.
The modern art movement
Art movement
An art movement is a tendency or style in art with a specific common philosophy or goal, followed by a group of artists during a restricted period of time, or, at least, with the heyday of the movement defined within a number of years...
in Iran had its genesis in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This was the period after the death of famous Persian painter, Kamal-ol-molk
Kamal-ol-molk
Mohammad Ghaffari , better known as Kamal-ol-Molk , was an Iranian painter and part of the Ghaffari Clan in Kashan.-Biography:...
(1852–1940) and thus symbolically the end of a rigid adherence to academic painting.
The 1949 opening of the Apadana gallery in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, and the emergence of artists like Marcos Grigorian
Marcos Grigorian
Marcos Grigorian was a notable Iranian-Armenian artist and a pioneer of Iranian modern art.-Biography:...
in the 1950s, signaled a commitment to the creation of a form of modern art grounded in Iran.
In 1977, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art
Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art
Tehran's Museum of Contemporary Art is an art museum in Tehran, Iran.Inaugurated in 1977, and built adjacent to Tehran's Laleh Park, the museum was designed by Iranian architect Kamran Diba, who employed elements from traditional Persian architecture. The building can be listed as a contemporary...
opened, boasting an important collection of both Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian artists.
Notable artists in Iranian modern art
- Abbas (photographer)Abbas (photographer)Abbas Attar is an Iranian photographer known for his photojournalism in Biafra, Vietnam and South Africa in the 1970s, and for his extensive essays on religions in later years...
- Reza AbediniReza AbediniReza Abedini, is a world renowned Iranian designer and a professor of graphic design and visual culture at Tehran University.Abedini is one of the most famous graphics designer in Iran because of his modern Persian typography...
, Prince Claus Award winner (2006) - Alaleh AlamirAlaleh AlamirAlaleh Alamir آلاله علامیر is an artist. She graduated with a BA from Reed College, and postgraduate studies led to an MFA from Parsons School of Design ....
- Seyed Alavi
- Bahram AlivandiBahram AlivandiBahram Alivandi is an Iranian-born Modern artist living in Vienna, Austria. He is known primarily for his paintings, which typically depict stories from Persian mythology and literature, and express oriental mysticism...
- Hannibal Alkhass (1930-2010)
- Aydin AghdashlooAydin AghdashlooAydin Aghdashloo is an Iranian painter, author, art critic, art historian and graphic designer.He currently lives in Tehran, Iran and lectures in different Iranian Universities besides his professional work.- Early life :...
- Massoud ArabshahiMassoud ArabshahiMassoud Arabshahi , born Tehran, Iran, 1935 is an Iranian painter.Arabshahi held his first solo exhibition at the Iran-India Centre, Tehran, in 1964, four years before graduating from the College of Decorative Arts, Tehran...
- Kamrooz AramKamrooz Aram-Biography:Kamrooz Aram is a contemporary artist whose work explores themes relating to systems of belief, including nationalist, religious, and artistic ideologies...
- Siah ArmajaniSiah ArmajaniSiah Armajani is an Iranian-born American sculptor.Siah Armajani designed the Olympic Torch presiding over the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
- Morteza AviniMorteza AviniSayyed Morteza Avini was an Iranian photographer of the Iran-Iraq war.Avini was born in 1947 in Rey, south of Tehran...
- Abbas KatouzianAbbas KatouzianAbbas Katouzian was an Iranian painter and artist.Born in Tehran, Katouzian studied art history during his childhood and chose his mentor as Kamalolmolk. He followed the latter in developing the realistic movement in Iran...
- Reza DeghatiReza DeghatiReza Deghati, born 1952 in Tabriz, Iran is an Iranian-French photojournalist, who works under the name Reza .-Biography:Reza has covered much of the globe for National Geographic Magazine. Several films about Reza's work have been produced by National Geographic Television, most notably Frontline...
, - Mohammad Ehsai
- Shahram EntekhabiShahram EntekhabiShahram Entekhabi , born 1963, is an Iranian-born video and installation artist. He studied graphic design at the University of Tehran, Iran and architecture, urbanism at state University in Reggio Calabria, Italy.-Work:...
- Mahmoud FarshchianMahmoud FarshchianMahmoud Farshchian is a master of Persian painting and miniatures. He was born in the city of Isfahan in Iran, a place famed for its art and artists, and it was here where he started to learn art, painting and sculpting....
- Andre Gavelivich (1911-1985)
- Shadi GhadirianShadi GhadirianShadi Ghadirian was born in 1974 in Tehran, Iran. She is a photographer who continues to live and work in Iran. Ghadirian studied photography at Azad University . After finishing her B. A., Ghadirian began her professional career as a photographer. She says that "quite by accident", the...
- Shahpour Pouyan
- Behrouz GharibpourBehrouz GharibpourBehrouz Gharibpour is a renowned Iranian theatre director and pioneer of traditional Persian puppet theatre.He studied theatre at Tehran University and at Dramatic Arts Academy in Rome . He founded Tehran and Esfahan puppet theatre centres and changed the Tehran’s slaughterhouse into the greatest...
, The Hans Christian Andersen Award (2002) - Kaveh GolestanKaveh GolestanKāveh Golestān Taghavi Shirazi , was an Iranian photojournalist and artist. Golestan was educated at Millfield School in Somerset, England....
- Barbad GolshiriBarbad GolshiriBarbad Golshiri is an Iranian contemporary artist, born in 1982 in Tehran, Iran. His father was Houshang Golshiri, a famous Iranian writer. He studied painting at The School of Art and Architecture, Azad University, Tehran. He has worked both as a media artist and a critic...
- Marcos GrigorianMarcos GrigorianMarcos Grigorian was a notable Iranian-Armenian artist and a pioneer of Iranian modern art.-Biography:...
- Javad HamidiJavad HamidiJavad Hamidi was an Iranian painter and poet. He studied at the Tehran University's faculty of Fine Arts and L'Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris....
- Khosrow HassanzadehKhosrow HassanzadehKhosrow Hassanzadeh is an Iranian painter. He is known for his "Terrorist" collection.Hassanzadeh lives and works in Tehran, where he works as an actor and visual artist. His work featured in many exhibitions in Europe and the Middle East. Hassanzadeh works primarily with painting, silkscreen and...
- Taraneh HemamiTaraneh HemamiTaraneh Hemami is an interdisciplinary visual artist based in San Francisco, California, USA.Influenced by Persian art, architecture and poetry, Hemami's multidisciplinary works explore the complex cultural politics of exile through personal and collective projects and installations...
- Shirazeh HoushiaryShirazeh HoushiaryShirazeh Houshiary is an Iranian installation artist and sculptor. She is a former Turner Prize nominee, and lives and works in London.-Life and work:Shirazeh Houshiary left her native country of Iran in 1973...
, Turner Prize nominee. - Morteza Katouzian
- Hossein Khosrojerdi, founder of Iranian computerized painting.
- Tannaz LahijiTannaz LahijiTannaz Lahiji is an Iranian-born artist, currently residing in Florence, Italy. In addition to working as an independent artist, she teaches at Florence's L.A.B.A...
,
- Iman MalekiIman MalekiImān Maleki is an Iranian Realist painter.Iman Maleki's fascination with painting began as a child. He started taking lessons in painting at the age of fifteen. His first and only teacher in painting was the celebrated Iranian painter Mortezā Kātouziān. His career as a professional painter began...
, 2005 William Bouguereau and Chairman's Choice Award at 2nd Int'l ARC Salon - Morteza MomayezMorteza MomayezMorteza Momayez was an Iranian graphic designer. He was one of the founders of Iranian Graphic Design Society and held a membership to Alliance Graphique Internationale...
, - Farhad MoshiriFarhad MoshiriFarhad Moshiri is an Iranian artist.He was born in Shiraz, Iran, and studied fine arts at CalArts in California. In America he first started experimenting with installations, video art and painting before coming back to Tehran in 1991...
- Karim Nasr
- Shirin NeshatShirin NeshatShirin Neshat شیرین نشاط is an Iranian visual artist who lives in New York. She is known primarily for her work in film, video and photography.-Background:Neshat's parents were upper middle-class...
- Nicky Nodjoumi
- Hussein Nuri
- Mina NouriMina NouriMina NouriBorn in 6 January 1951, Tehran, Iran- Education :Studied Painting, Xylography and Chalcography from 1970-1975 at:*Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, Italy*Accademia di Albertina, Torino, Italy...
(Painter, Printmaker) - Farah Ossuli
- Yari Ostovany
- Nasser Palangi
- Jalil RasouliJalil RasouliMohammad Jalil Rasouli is a notable Iranian artist and Persian calligrapher.He is one of the pioneering figure in modernist movement of Persian calligraphy.-External links:*...
- Freydoon RassouliFreydoon RassouliRassouli is an Iranian-Born, American abstract surrealist painter. He was raised in a home decorated with murals and intricate floral designs. Inspired and encouraged by an uncle, he began painting and learning poetry from early age...
- Jahangir RazmiJahangir RazmiJahangir Razmi is an award-winning Iranian photographer and the author of the entry that won the 1980 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography. His photograph, Firing Squad in Iran, was taken on August 27, 1979 and published anonymously in the Iranian daily Ettela'at, the oldest still running...
, Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winner. - Jafar Rouhbakhsh
- Behjat SadrBehjat SadrBehjat Sadr was an Iranian painter whose works have been exhibited in major cities across the world, such as New York, Paris, and Rome. She was born to parents Mohammad Sadr Mahallati and Ghamar Amini Sadr in Arak in 1924. Sadr began her studies at the University of Tehran faculty of fine arts...
- Reza KhodadadiReza KhodadadiReza Khodadadi ,lives and works in Tehran. Iranian Contemporary Artist, Academic, painter, sculptor&Muralist was born in 1961 , Ardebil Iran.*Faculty member of University of Art....
- Mehdi SaeediMehdi SaeediMehdi Saeedi, , Iran. He studied graphic design in the Art Academy and afterwards majored in Art and Design at England’s Cambridge University....
, Grand Prize,"Five Star Designer International Triennial 2009 in Osaka, Japan - Homayoun SalimiHomayoun SalimiHomayoun Salimi, born 1948, is an Iranian Painter and academic, born in Tehran, Iran. He is the Head of Department of Painting at University of Art in Tehran...
- Marjane SatrapiMarjane SatrapiMarjane Satrapi is an Iranian-born French contemporary graphic novelist, illustrator, animated film director, and children's book author...
- Mitra TabrizianMitra TabrizianMitra Tabrizian is a British-Iranian photographer and film director. She is also a professor of photography at the University of Westminster, London, England....
- Parviz TanavoliParviz TanavoliParviz Tanavoli is an Iranian sculptor now residing in Canada. He was born in Tehran, Iran in 1937.-Academic career:Upon graduating from the Brera Academy of Milan in 1959, Tanavoli taught sculpture for three years at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design...
- Sadegh TirafkanSadegh TirafkanSadegh Tirafkan is an Iranian contemporary artist who lives in Tehran, Iran.Tirafkan was six years of age his family fled the country before the start of the Islamic revolution. His family returned to Tehran where he grew up...
- Mehdi Hoseini,Academic&Painter
- Mohsen Vaziri-MoghaddamMohsen Vaziri-MoghaddamMohsen Vaziri is an Iranian painter and a professor of art.-Education:In 1946 he received Diploma of Fine Arts Academy from the University of Tehran. In 1955 he moved to Italy for further studies...
- Alfred YaghobzadehAlfred YaghobzadehAlfred Yaghobzadeh , is an Iranian Photographer of Assyrian descent who is noted for his war photography.Yaghobzadeh was born in Tehran, to a Christian Assyrian family. His photographs in Iran during the turmoil of 1979 and during the Iran-Iraq war led to his work for the Associated Press, Gamma,...
- Iraj Zand
- Noureddin Zarrin-Kelk
- Hossein ZenderoudiHossein ZenderoudiCharles Hossein Zenderoudi is a renowned Iranian painter and sculptor, known especially as a pioneer of Iranian modern art. His work Tchaar Bagh was sold at Christi's International auction in Dubai for $1.6 million.- Museums :...
, - Maryam HashemiMaryam HashemiMaryam Hashemi is an Iranian painter, based in London, UK since 2002. She grew up in Tehran and graduated in Graphic Design from Azad University in 2001. Her first solo exhibition was at the Haft Samar Gallery in Tehran in 2001 which was followed by a group exhibition of "Ten Iranian Female...
Notable figures from the Iranian cultural continent
Greater Iran
Greater Iran refers to the regions that have significant Iranian cultural influence. It roughly corresponds to the territory on the Iranian plateau and its bordering plains, stretching from Iraq, the Caucasus, and Turkey in the west to the Indus River in the east...
and is not limited to modern Iran. Modern art is emerging in Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Iraqi Kurdistan. In Afghanistan, Rahraw Omarzad
Rahraw Omarzad
Rahraw Omarzad is an Afghan writer, artist, lecturer and an expert on Afghan modern art from Afghanistan.He is the founding director of the Centre for Contemporary Art Afghanistan , a lecturer at Kabul University and editor in chief of Gahnama-e-Hunar Art Magazine.-References:...
, founded Center for Contemporary Art Afghanistan (CCAA) in 2004. Also, a museum of modern art is under construction in Iraqi Kurdistan. Here is a list of notable figures of Iranian modern art throughout the Iranian cultural continent:
- Lida AbdulLida AbdulLida Abdul is a video artist and performance artist from Afghanistan. She was born as Lida Abdullah in Kabul in 1973, fled the country as a child during the Soviet Invasion and went on to live in Germany then the United States...
(Afghanistan) - Sabzaly Sharif (Tajikistan)
- Mirshakarov Akmal (Tajikistan)
- Bekasien Anushervon (Tajikistan)
- Dilorom Shermatova (Tajikistan)
- Hamidova Nargis (Tajikistan)
See also
- Persian art
- Persian culture
- Intellectual Movements in IranIntellectual movements in IranIntellectual movements in Iran involve the Iranian experience of modernity and its associated art, science, literature, poetry, and political structures that have been changing since the 19th century.- History of Iranian modernity :...
- Iranian cinemaCinema of IranThe cinema of Iran is a flourishing film industry with a long history. Many popular commercial films are annually made in Iran, and Iranian art films win praise around the world....