Gizella Varga Sinai

Gizella Varga Sinaei, a contemporary Iranian-Hungarian painter and artist, was born in 1944 in Hungary. She completed her higher education in art education at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. A turning point in her life was her acquaintance with Khosrow Sinaei, the Iranian filmmaker and artist. After their marriage, she migrated to Iran in 1967 and has been residing in Tehran ever since. For over five decades, Varga Sinaei has maintained an active presence in the field of visual arts. Her works reflect the experience of migration, intercultural life, and the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures. Drawing on elements of classical Persian literature, mythology, legends, and ancient imagery, her paintings portray themes such as identity, memory, and time in a deeply personal and poetic manner. Her first solo exhibition in Iran was held in 1968 at the Modern Art Gallery of zhazeh Tabatabai. Since then, she has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions across Iran, Europe, the United States, Canada, China, Turkey, Pakistan, and Dubai. Her works are included in prestigious collections such as the Centre Georges Pompidou in France. Between 1981 and 1987, Gizella Varga Sinaei taught at the Tehran Contemporary Workshop, and from 1988 to 2003, she served as an art instructor at schools affiliated with the German Embassy. In 2001, she became an official member of the Iranian Painters Association and is considered one of the founding members of the “Dena” art group. In recent years, in recognition of her lifelong artistic contributions and her significant role in promoting cultural dialogue between Iran and Hungary, she was awarded the highest honor of the Republic of Hungary.