Parviz Shapour

Parviz Shapour, one of the prominent figures in literary humor and conceptual art, was born in 1923 in Qom, Iran. He completed his primary education at the “Iran and Germany” School and later earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Tehran. Alongside his administrative career, Shapour began creating short writings and drawings from a young age, portraying the world around him through innovative, thought-provoking, witty, and meaningful statements. In the 1960s, his first writings and drawings were published in Toufigh magazine and quickly attracted public attention. Ahmad Shamlou was the first to coin the term “Caricature-Word” (Karikalmatur) to describe his work. Shapour’s artistic style combines humor, philosophy, and poetry; with simple yet profound language, he reflected on everyday life and human contradictions. His works have had a significant impact not only in literary humor but also in the development of conceptual and minimal art in Iran. Shapour’s pieces have been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including the 2025 exhibition The World of Parviz Shapour at Aria Gallery. Parviz Shapour passed away in 1999.