Farhad Gavzan

Farhad Gavzan

Farhad Gavzan (born 1974 in Babol) is a visual artist, designer, one of the influential figures of contemporary drawing in Iran. He began his artistic training under Ahmad Nasrollahi in his private studio, and later continued his education at the IRIB School of Visual Arts. Gavzan received his BA in Painting from the Islamic Azad University and his MA in Painting in 2003 from the University of Art in Tehran. Although his academic background is rooted in painting, he is best known for his drawing practice—an experimental, at times expressionistic, and action-based approach that has played a significant role in establishing drawing as an independent medium in contemporary Iranian art. His first solo exhibition was held in 1998 at Seyhoun Gallery, and since then his works have been presented in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Iran and internationally, including in Italy, France, the Netherlands, Finland, and Germany. Gavzan is the founder of the “Design House,” the “Children’s Design House,” and the “Pure Drawing Museum,” and has been deeply active in art education, research, and cultural institution-building. His career also includes directing the Peace Museum of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, curating collaborative projects and symposia, and teaching at various universities. His works are held in collections such as the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and the Drents Museum in the Netherlands.

Resume

Education and Membership
2003 – Master’s degree in Painting, University of Art, Tehran
1999 – Bachelor’s degree in Painting, Azad University
1994 – Diploma in Visual Arts, IRIB Art School
— Full member, Iranian Painters’ Association

Founder
2017 – Pure Design Museum
2010 – Children’s Design House
2004 – Design House

Solo Exhibitions
2024 – Atom, Hoor Gallery, Tehran
2022 – Paintings by Farhad Gavzan, Hoor Gallery, Tehran
2022 – Art Without Borders, Nave Chapel (A-Kerk), Netherlands
2021 – Paintings and Drawings by Farhad Gavzan, Hoor Gallery, Tehran
2019 – Drawings by Farhad Gavzan, Middle East Art Festival, Main Hall, Netherlands
2019 – “Traces of Alley Designs in Tajrish,” Review of Young Farhad Gavzan’s Works, Vala Art Museum, Tehran
2017 – Strings, Design Museum, Tehran
2016 – Drawings by Farhad Gavzan, Spazio Noor, Milan, Italy
2015 – Drawings by Farhad Gavzan, Dastan +2 Gallery
2015 – Start, Saatchi Gallery, London
2014 – Contemporary Design Exhibition, Main Hall (D’DESSIN), Paris
2011 – Body, Free Designers Gallery, Tehran
2009 – Victim, Mehrva Gallery, Tehran
2008 – Human, Hoor Gallery, Tehran
2007 – One Work, Memiz Gallery, Artists’ House, Tehran
2006 – Design Wave, Arya Gallery, Tehran
2005 – Blessing, Shiraz Artists’ House, Shiraz
2005 – Inscription, Naqshkhaneh Gallery, Isfahan
2005 – Revision, Memiz Gallery, Artists’ House, Tehran
2004 – Human, Arya Gallery, Tehran
2004 – Independent Design, Marlik Gallery, Yazd
2003 – Contemporary Design, Pouya Gallery, Rasht
2003 – Street Exhibition, Shiraz
2003 – Design Labyrinth, Siyahon Gallery, Tehran
2002 – Contemporary Design Exhibition, Barg Gallery, Tehran
2001 – Design Exhibition, Barg Gallery, Tehran
2000 – Two Thousand Designs for the Year 2000, Afrand Gallery, Tehran
1998 – Black, with photographs by Kourosh Adim of Farhad Gavzan’s studio, Siyahon Gallery, Tehran
1997 – Black, University of Art, Tehran, One-Day Exhibition

Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 – Wound, Yo Galleria, Helsinki, Finland
2024 – Resize, Artibition Gallery
2024 – ColourEast, Baias Gallery, Italy
2024 – 30/40, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2024 – Seven, Javid Gallery, Tehran
2023 – Continuous Visualization, Shovadon Gallery, Shushtar
2023 – Art Without Borders 2, A-Kerk Chapel, MENArts Festival, Netherlands
2023 – Wound, Tool Box Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2022 – Faceless Art Project, Farsh Film Art Institute, Tehran
2022 – Art Without Borders, A-Kerk Chapel, Netherlands
2021 – Ev Gallery, Tehran
2021 – Artbook Exhibition, Club Gallery, Tehran
2019 – Shabtab (participation in three editions), Free Designers Gallery, Tehran
2019 – Middle East Art Film Festival, Essen, Netherlands
2019 – One-Day Exhibition: “Trunk Traces from Mahan and Stone Garden,” DoBagh Project, Kerman
2018 – Cold Storage, Abqa & Algha Project, Tehran
2017 – Metamorphosis, Group Exhibition Iran–Turkey, Istanbul
2016 – Pigeon Drum, Presbook, Isfahan
2016 – White Wetland, Art Gallery, Babol
2016 – Two-Person Exhibition with Vahik Hartonian, Design Week, Lar, Iran
2016 – Research Exhibition, Iranian Painters Association, Artists’ House, Tehran
2016 – Postcard, Free Designers Gallery, Tehran
2016 – Update (2), Dastan Basement Gallery
2015 – Peace on Paper, Gallery No.1, Niavaran Cultural Center, Tehran
2015 – Update, Dastan +2 Gallery, Tehran
2015 – Tradition and Modernism, Shams Gallery, Tehran
2015 – One Million, Third Gallery, Tehran
2014 – Fearless, O Gallery, Tehran
2014 – Art Dubai
2012 – Game of History, Etemad Gallery, Tehran
2008 – Selected Paintings by University of Art Professors, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran
2008 – Contemporary Painters Group Exhibition, Saba Gallery, Tehran
2005 – Blue Gallery Artists, Niavaran Cultural–Historical Complex, Tehran
1993 – First Exhibition: A Look at the Alleys of Tajrish and Babol, IRIB Art School

Auctions
2024 – Baias Arte Auction, Italy
2019 – Sixth Shams Gallery Auction, Paris
2017 – Hammer and Design, Pure Design Museum, Tehran
2015 – Christie’s Charity Auction, Saatchi Gallery, London
2015 – IBS, Iranian Business School Project, London

Residency
2022 – Drents Museum, Netherlands

Works in Museums and Private Collections
— One work, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran
— Two works, Drents Museum, Netherlands
— Seven designs, Didi Museum
— Three works, Argo Factory
— Two works, Peace Museum of Iranian Red Crescent

Books
2005 – Human, Navid Publishing, Shiraz
2002 – Year 2000 Design Collection, Blue Room Publishing
2000 – Folder Book, Farhad Gavzan’s Designs, Graphic Designer: Reza Abedini, original works sold in folder

Awards
2005 – First Prize, “Rafuzeha Biennale,” Siyahon Gallery, Niavaran Palace, Tehran
2001 – Annual Contemporary Design Award, Barg Gallery, Tehran