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Jazeh Tabatabai, an Iranian modernist artist, was born in 1926 in Tehran. He was active in painting, sculpture, poetry, and playwriting. Tabatabai began his artistic education with directing and theater and later studied painting at the College of Fine Arts. He founded Iran’s first art gallery, “Honar-e Jadid” (New Art), in 1960, which marked a milestone in the development of modern art in the country. In his works, Jazeh Tabatabai used recycled materials such as scrap iron to create figurative sculptures that reinterpreted symbols from Iranian culture and mythology. His artistic style was connected to the Saqqakhaneh movement, blending traditional and modern art in an innovative way. His works are held in prestigious museums worldwide, including the Louvre in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. He received more than ten international awards and is recognized as one of the pioneers of modern Iranian art. Jazeh Tabatabai passed away in Tehran in 2007.
Education
1950 – Graduated from Dārā’i High School
1950 – Enrolled in the Faculty of Law (later withdrew)
1950 – Graduated from the Ballet Academy
1950 – Received a diploma in acting from the School of Theater
1960 – Earned a Master’s degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tehran
Solo Exhibitions
1994 – Final solo exhibition organized by the artist himself, Tehran
2016 – Solo exhibition, Shahrivar Gallery, Tehran
2024 – Retrospective exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran
Group Exhibitions
2014 – Zoo, Shirin Gallery, Tehran
2017 – Amordad, Afrand Gallery, Tehran
2018 – Abu Dhabi Art, presented by Shirin Gallery, UAE
2018 – Open Sale, Azad Designers Gallery, Tehran
2018 – Summer Exhibition, Mah Gallery, Tehran
2018 – In the Color of the Sky, Land of Art Gallery, Tehran
2018 – 6th International Art for Peace Festival, Mellat Cineplex, Tehran
2018 – The Glory of Art II, Shokouh Gallery, Tehran
2018 – 1397#1, Negar Gallery, Tehran
2018 – Special Sale, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2018 – 3rd Anniversary Celebration of Negar Gallery, Tehran
2019 – 10-20-30, Azad Gallery, Tehran
2021 – Nasoot, Art Design Gallery, Tehran
2021 – Perspective, Liam Gallery, Tehran
2021 – Rare Collection of Modern Iranian Art, Leila Heller Gallery, Dubai
2021 – Turning Point 3: Part One, Liam Gallery, Tehran
2021 – Turning Point 4, Liam Gallery, Tehran
2021 – Art Veterans, Negah Gallery, Tehran
2021 – Thirty Sculptures, Thirty Sculptors, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2022 – Modernism Collector, July 2022, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2022 – Collection I, Ella Gallery, Tehran
2022 – Retrieval, Nian Gallery, Tehran
2023 – Seventy Years of Iranian Sculpture, Art Center, Tehran
2023 – Modern Collector, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2023 – Selected Contemporary Artists, Art Center, Tehran
2023 – Men Art Fair, presented by Simine Paris, Paris
2023 – Art of Veterans Exhibition, Negah Gallery, Tehran
2023 – Head to Head, Fuse Gallery, Kashan
2024 – A Collection, Plus 2 Gallery, Tehran
2024 – Golden Years, Far Gallery, Tehran
2024 – Cock-a-doodle-doo, Negah Gallery, Tehran
2024 – Saqqakhaneh, Birth of a Dream, Javid Gallery, Tehran
2024 – Form and Figure, Eve Gallery, Tehran
2025 – Along the History of Iranian Art, Sales Gallery, Tehran
Notable Events
1946 – Publication of the short story The Little Boy’s Story
1949 – Founding of Apadana Gallery
1950 – Official establishment of Lux Film Studio on Lalezar-e-No Street
1961 – Founded the first contemporary art gallery in Iran: "New Art" Gallery
1961 – Display of works at Reza Abbasi Museum
1964 – First prize at the 4th Tehran Biennial for Neither Bird Nor Man
1967 – Documentary Biography directed by Khosrow Sinai about his life and work
1997 – Autumn Road, a film about the artist’s life, was produced
2003 – Three-volume collection of his works published by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance
2008 – Passed away in February in Tehran
2013 – Commemorative ceremony held by Zirzamin Dastan Gallery
