Jazeh Tabatabai

Jazeh Tabatabai

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.

Resume

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