Mehrdad Mohebali

Mehrdad Mohebali is an Iranian painter born in 1959 (1338) in Tehran. At the age of six, he began studying painting under the guidance of Ali Eshraghi. During high school, he simultaneously pursued studies in architecture and experimental sciences, and later entered the National University (Shahid Beheshti University) to study mineralogy. Following the Cultural Revolution and the closure of universities, he turned fully toward art. After the reopening of universities, he continued his education in painting at the University of Tehran. Mohebali addresses his historical and political concerns through a distinctive approach to realism and visual expression. He places human figures side by side in various positions, drawing the viewer’s attention through the contrast of their identities despite their shared situations. Human beings, depicted in diverse emotional states, appear in his works in the form of portraits or various figurative compositions. Mohebali was a member of the 30+ Group and held his first solo exhibition in 1991 (1370) at Sabz Gallery. Since then, he has participated in numerous national and international exhibitions and has collaborated with galleries such as Golestan and Etemad. His works have been presented in significant group exhibitions at institutions including the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum, the Third Paris Triennial, the Turin Festival in Italy, and the Second Beijing Biennale. In addition, his artworks have been showcased at art fairs such as ShanghART 021, Asia Now (Paris), and Art Dubai.