Ebrahim Faraji

Ebrahim Faraji (1938–2004) was an Iranian painter, filmmaker, and art educator born in Tehran. He studied cinematography at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts. In the mid-1960s, he began painting by attending extracurricular classes at the university. His first exhibition was held in 1965 at the same institution. His first solo exhibition in a professional setting took place in 1971 at Seyhun Gallery. He also exhibited at Sullivan Gallery. In 1974, he participated in group exhibitions during the 7th Asian Games in Tehran and other group exhibitions. In 1977, he traveled to France for further training. After the 1979 revolution, Faraji balanced his work in cinema and painting with teaching art. He taught at the Tehran School of Fine Arts for Boys and Girls and served as the principal of Kamal-ol-Molk School from 1994 to 2004. In 2007, a tribute was held for him at the Tehran School of Fine Arts for Boys, where his works were displayed. He also worked as an art consultant at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Throughout his career, Faraji experimented with various styles, often exploring post-impressionist tendencies in his works. His brushstrokes and color choices ranged from Impressionism to Fauvism. Some of his paintings even showed surrealist influences; for instance, in a self-portrait, he depicted himself holding Salvador Dalí's severed head. A significant portion of his works consists of self-portraits, often showing him in his studio with painting tools. He also created still life and landscape paintings using watercolor techniques. In cinema, Faraji made short films and participated in festivals. Notable among his works are "The Magic Machine" and "Visual Researches." He passed away in 2004 at the age of 66.