Bahram Hanafi

Bahram Hanafi, born in 1966 in Miandoab, is a prominent Iranian artist specializing in calligraphy and Naqqashi-khat (painterly calligraphy), also recognized as a researcher and expert in manuscript studies. He began his professional career through membership and training at the Iranian Calligraphers Association and later completed his undergraduate studies in Handicrafts at the University of Art, Tehran. Hanafi pursued graduate studies in Art Research at Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, and graduated in 1997. His first solo exhibition, titled Kohl-e Basar, was held concurrently with the completion of his undergraduate studies, and in 1994 he presented his works independently at the Siyahon Gallery. Years later, his exhibition Rumi’s Poems was held at the Los Angeles branch of Siyahon Gallery, and in 2019 his works were showcased by Capital Art London at the Affordable Art Fair. Although Hanafi began his career within the classical framework of Iranian calligraphy, from his earliest exhibitions he displayed a strong inclination toward modern calligraphic language. He has developed his artistic path through experiences in freehand shekasteh calligraphy, energetic and gestural ink works, and improvisational writing. A significant evolution in his style occurred with the exhibition Azarnaviseh in 2009, where, while maintaining mastery of Thuluth script, he embraced freedom, dynamism, and spontaneity, transcending the boundaries of classical calligraphy.

Resume

Selected Solo Exhibitions
1992 — Calligraphy, University of Art, Tehran, Iran
1994 — Calligraphy, Siyahon Gallery, Tehran
1995 — Calligraphy, Kandolus Gallery
1996 — Calligraphy, Siyahon Gallery, Tehran
1997 — Calligraphy, Iran Club, Dubai
1998 — Calligraphy, Gorgan
1999 — Calligraphy, Nagsh-e Jahan Gallery
2002 — Calligraphy, Vali Gallery, Tehran
2003 — Calligraphy, Senigalia, Italy
2003 — Calligraphy, Vali Gallery, Tehran
2004 — Modern Approaches to Calligraphy, Farhangsara-ye Khial, Iran
2005 — Calligraphy, Vali Gallery, Tehran
2006 — Calligraphy, Rumi’s Poems, Siyahon Gallery, Los Angeles
2008 — Calligraphy, Vali Gallery, Tehran
2018 — Blue Period Series, Sarban Gallery, Tehran

Selected Group Exhibitions (Domestic & International)
1992 — Expert, Export, and Miniature, Tehran
1993 — Portrait Artists, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran
1995 — Group Exhibition, United Kingdom
1995 — Ferdowsi, Tehran
1997 — Group Exhibition, China
1998 — Group Exhibition, Paris, France
1999 — Group Exhibition, House of Cinema Gallery, Tehran
2000 — Group Exhibition, Montreal, Canada
2001 — Group Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany
2001 — Group Exhibition, Madrid, Spain
2005 — 5th Annual Exhibition of Galleries & Cultural Heritage, Siyahon
Gallery, Tehran
2006 — Group Exhibition, Haft Negah Gallery, Tehran
2008 — Group Exhibition, Niavaran Cultural Center, Tehran
2009 — Group Exhibition, Qatar
2009 — Group Exhibition, Tandis Gallery, Tehran
2013 — Group Exhibition of Naqqashi-khat, Siyahon Gallery, Tehran
2016 — 16th Naqqashi-khat Exhibition, Mojdeh Gallery, Tehran
2017 — Group Calligraphy Exhibition, Hands that are Connected, Siyahon Gallery,
Tehran
2018 — Summer Exhibition, Mah Gallery, Tehran
2018 — 6th International Art for Peace Festival, Pardis-e Mellat, Tehran
2018 — Shekooh-e Honar 2, Shekooh Gallery, Tehran