Gizella Varga Sinai

Gizella Varga Sinai is an Iranian–Hungarian painter born in 1944 (1323 SH) in Csakvar, Hungary. She graduated in 1967 (1346 SH) with a BA in Art Education from the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. From adolescence, alongside painting, she was deeply devoted to literature; her profound engagement with Persian poetry—especially the works of Hafez, Saadi, Rumi, and Ferdowsi—later became one of the intellectual and visual foundations of her artistic practice. After meeting and marrying Iranian artist Khosrow Sinai, she moved to Iran in 1967 to live and work. Her first solo exhibition in Iran was held in 1968 (1347 SH) at the Modern Art Gallery of Jazeh Tabatabai in Tehran. Over the years, her works have been exhibited in prominent galleries in Iran and abroad, including Homa Gallery, Golestan Gallery, and Apadana Gallery in Iran, UngArt Gallery in Austria, and cultural centers in Finland. She has participated in numerous group exhibitions and events such as the Mohammad Siah-Qalam Award, Asrar-e Azal: Khayyam and Contemporary Art, and the London Art Fair, Vienna Art Fair, and Teer Art Fair. Examples of her works are held in collections including the Centre Georges Pompidou in France. Since 2001 (1380 SH), she has been a member of the Iranian Painters Association and is considered one of the founders of the Dena Art Group. In recent years, in recognition of a lifetime of artistic activity and her significant role in fostering cultural dialogue between Iran and Hungary, she was awarded the High Order of the Republic of Hungary.

Resume

Born 1944 (1323 SH), Csakvar, Hungary

Education
1967 (1346 SH) — BA in Art Education, University of Applied Arts, Vienna, Austria

Professional Memberships
2001 (1380 SH) — Member, Iranian Painters Association
2001 (1380 SH) — Member, Dena Art Group

Solo Exhibitions
1968 (1347 SH) — Modern Art Gallery, Tehran
1969 (1348 SH) — Modern Art Gallery, Tehran
1973 (1352 SH) — Iran–America Society, Tehran
1974 (1353 SH) — Lautrec Gallery, Tehran
1977 (1356 SH) — Khaneh Aftab Gallery, Tehran
1986 (1365 SH) — Tanin-e Sokut, Tehran
1992 (1371 SH) — Golestan Gallery, Tehran
1995 (1374 SH) — Golestan Gallery, Tehran
2005 (1384 SH) — Homa Gallery, Tehran
2007 (1386 SH) — Joint exhibition with Janna Erkkilä, Finland
2007 (1386 SH) — Pirkkan Pohja Cultural Center, Finland
2009 (1388 SH) — UngArt Gallery, Hungarian College, Vienna, Austria
2010 (1389 SH) — Seen Gallery, Tehran
2011 (1390 SH) — Gol o Morgh, Apadana Gallery, Isfahan
2011 (1390 SH) — House of Art, Hungary
2022 (1401 SH) — Zir Kolahkhod, This Place Hall, Tehran
2023 (1402 SH) — Golestanam Arezoust, Hoo Gallery, Tehran
2024 (1403 SH) — Fal-e Hafez, Vista Gallery, Tehran
2024 (1403 SH) — Fal-e Hafez, Didar Gallery, Isfahan
2024 (1403 SH) — Fal-e Hafez, Haan Gallery, Shiraz
2024 (1403 SH) — Fal-e Hafez, Jaryan Gallery, Yazd
2024 (1403 SH) — Fal-e Hafez, Atelier Kaboud Gallery, Tabriz
2024 (1403 SH) — Fal-e Hafez, Saray Gallery, Mahshahr
2025 (1404 SH) — Fal-e Hafez, Hasht Cheshmeh Art Space, Kashan

Group Exhibitions
1991 (1370 SH) — Cultural Center, New York, USA
2000 (1379 SH) — Aria Gallery, Tehran
2002 (1381 SH) — Pars Mehri Gallery, USA
2002 (1381 SH) — Art Sud Expo, Palais des Congrès, Paris
2004 (1383 SH) — Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran
2005 (1384 SH) — Aqua Museum, Lisbon, Portugal
2008 (1387 SH) — Grand Painting Exhibition, Iranian Painters Association, Tehran
2015 (1394 SH) — Asrar-e Azal: Khayyam and Contemporary Art, Silk Road Gallery, Tehran
2017 (1396 SH) — 96+, Afrand Gallery, Tehran
2017 (1396 SH) — Shabtab 3, Designers Gallery, Tehran
2018 (1397 SH) — 6th International Art for Peace Festival, Pardis Mellat, Tehran
2018 (1397 SH) — Painting Exhibition, Khat-e Sefid Gallery, Tehran
2018 (1397 SH) — Collector, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2019 (1398 SH) — Mr. and Mrs. Artist, Farmanfarma Gallery, Tehran
2019 (1398 SH) — Collector 3, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2019 (1398 SH) — Man, Atelier Kaboud Gallery, Tabriz
2019 (1398 SH) — Surreal Representation in Contemporary Iranian Art, Shirin Gallery, Tehran
2019 (1398 SH) — Man, Emrooz Gallery, Isfahan
2019 (1398 SH) — Shabtab 7, Designers Gallery, Tehran
2020 (1399 SH) — Man, Haan Gallery, Shiraz
2020 (1399 SH) — Nafaran be Nafaran, Designers Gallery, Tehran
2020 (1399 SH) — Mafarr, Azad Gallery, Tehran
2020 (1399 SH) — Birds, Soo Contemporary Collection, Tehran
2021 (1400 SH) — In Continuation of Iraj, Iraj Zand Foundation, Tehran
2021 (1400 SH) — Painting Exhibition, Negar Gallery, Tehran
2021 (1400 SH) — Season of Flowers, Talaar Space, Tehran
2022 (1401 SH) — Mohammad Siah-Qalam Award – Invitees, Designers Gallery, Tehran
2022 (1401 SH) — Essay–Search, Ex Homa, Tehran
2023 (1402 SH) — Plus 2, Tehran
2023 (1402 SH) — Selected Works from Seventy Years of Iranian Sculpture, Art Center, Tehran
2024 (1403 SH) — Collector, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2024 (1403 SH) — Project One: Iranian Women Artists | Modern and Contemporary, Ev Gallery, Tehran
2024 (1403 SH) — Dorous, No. 34, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2024 (1403 SH) — Decades Projects | 1941–1951 (1320–1330 SH), Ev Gallery, Tehran
2024 (1403 SH) — Afret, P Gallery, Sanandaj
2025 (1404 SH) — On the Table, Ev Gallery, Tehran
2025 (1404 SH) — Unfinished Visit, Bazdid Gallery, Tehran

Art Fairs
2002 (1381 SH) — Art Sud Expo, Paris
2014 (1393 SH) — Vienna Art Fair, Austria
2014 (1393 SH) — London Art Fair, United Kingdom
2020 (1399 SH) — Teer Art Fair, presented by Shirin Gallery, Tehran

Festivals
2018 (1397 SH) — 6th International Art for Peace Festival, Tehran

Awards
1977 (1356 SH) — Award, Ayeneh dar Ayeneh Exhibition, Tehran