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Iman Afsharian, painter and researcher, was born in 1974 in Tehran. He is regarded as one of the influential figures in Iranian contemporary painting since the 2000s. He received his BA in Painting and MA in Illustration from the University of Art, Tehran, and is a co-founder of the quarterly journal Herfeh: Honarmand (The Professional Artist)—a publication that over the past two decades has become one of the key platforms for art criticism and theory in Iran. Through both his artistic practice and theoretical work, Afsharian has played a significant role in the revival and promotion of realist painting and in legitimizing this approach within the context of contemporary Iranian art. His solo exhibitions have been held at Haft Samar, Aaran, and Etemad Galleries in Tehran. His works have also been exhibited at the Painting Biennials of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and at the Asian Art Biennial in Taiwan.
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Born 1974, Tehran
Education
1996 — BA in Painting, University of Art, Tehran
2000 — MA in Illustration, University of Art, Tehran
Professional and Cultural Activities
2003 — Began activity as Art Director, Herfeh: Honarmand
2003 — Contributor to Herfeh: Honarmand and Tandis art magazines
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2019 — “An Exhibition About Dust, Shadow, Glass, Water,” Etemad Gallery, Tehran
2016 — “There Is Night,” Etemad Gallery, Tehran
2013 — “On the Probability and Ends of Insignificant Things,” Etemad Gallery, Tehran
2010 — Etemad Gallery, Tehran
2008 — Aaran Gallery, Tehran
2006 — Aaran Gallery, Tehran
2004 — Haft Samar Gallery, Tehran
1995 — Haft Samar Gallery, Tehran
1994 — Haft Samar Gallery, Tehran
Biennials and International Events
2009 — Asian Art Biennial, “Viewpoints and Viewing Points,” National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taipei
2004 — 6th Painting Biennial, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art
2002 — 5th Painting Biennial, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art
2000 — 4th Painting Biennial, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art
1998 — 3rd Painting Biennial, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art
Art Fairs
2020 — Teer Art, presented by Etemad Gallery, Tehran
2019 — Teer Art, presented by Etemad Gallery, Tehran
2015 — Art International Istanbul
2011 — Parallel Exhibition during Contemporary Istanbul, with Etemad Gallery
2007 — London Art, Iranian Heritage Foundation, London
Selected Group Exhibitions
2021 — “Opportunity,” Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran
2020 — “A Window to See” (Online), Asr Gallery, Tehran
2020 — “Defying Plato on Architecture,” Inja Hall, Tehran
2020 — “One by One,” Azad Art Gallery, Tehran
2018 — “Edge,” Emkan Gallery, Tehran
2018 — “/Life/Silent/,” Inja Hall, Tehran
2015 — Etemad Gallery, Tehran
2012 — Annual Exhibition of Etemad Gallery Artists, Tehran
2011 — Annual Exhibition of Etemad Gallery Artists, Tehran
2010 — “Call of the Loss,” Arario Gallery, New York
2009 — “Routes 2,” Waterhouse & Dodd, London
2009 — “The Promise of Loss,” Ernst Hilger Gallery, Vienna
2009 — “Tehran–Frankfurt / Frankfurt–Tehran,” Mahmehr Gallery, Frankfurt
2008 — “Tehran–Frankfurt / Frankfurt–Tehran,” Mousonturm, Frankfurt
2007 — “Modernism in Iranian Art,” Ferdowsi University, Mashhad
2005 — Moscow Artists Association, Moscow
