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Houshang Pezeshknia, an Iranian painter and filmmaker and a pioneer of modern art in Iran, was born on July 27, 1917, in Tehran. He is recognized as one of the leading figures in introducing modern artistic movements to Iran, and his works offer a vivid reflection of the social and cultural life of contemporary Iran. Pezeshknia discovered his artistic passion and talent during his teenage years while studying at the “Nezam School” (1922). His acquaintance with the students of Kamal-ol-Molk deepened his interest in painting. After completing his higher education in history and geography at Daneshsara-ye Aali (1937), he traveled to Istanbul in 1942 to continue his art studies. There, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts under the guidance of the French-Iranian professor Léopold Lévy and became familiar with Western modernist movements and styles. His first artistic appearance came in 1944 with a joint exhibition with Hossein Taherzadeh Behzad at the Iranian Consulate in Istanbul. In the same year, he held his first solo exhibition at the Iran-Britain Cultural Relations Society in Tehran. His collaboration with Apadana, Iran’s first private art gallery, solidified his position in the artistic community, and his second official exhibition took place at the Apadana Gallery in December 1949. Pezeshknia continued his studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran, learning under prominent masters such as Hossein Behzad and Ali-Akbar Yasemi. After graduation, he went to the Julian Academy in Paris to further explore and research modern art, where he became acquainted with contemporary artistic currents worldwide and developed his own distinctive style. Houshang Pezeshknia passed away in Tehran in 1972.
Education
1931–1932: Studied at Nezam School
1937: Received a Bachelor's degree in History and Geography from Daneshsara-ye
Ali (Higher Teacher Training College)
1941–1942: Began studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, Istanbul, under Professor
Leopold Levy
1942: Traveled to France and Turkey
1946: Completed studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, Istanbul
Professional Experience and Teaching
1937: Started teaching in the city of Kerman
1946: Returned to Iran
1947: Traveled to Abadan for work and residence
1958: Returned to Tehran
Solo Exhibitions
1947: First solo exhibition, Tehran
1948: Solo exhibition, Breim, Abadan
1948: Solo exhibition, Apadana Gallery, Tehran
1949: Solo exhibition, Annex Restaurant, Abadan
1949: Solo exhibition, Breim, Abadan
1960: Solo exhibition, Tedesco Gallery, Paris
1961: Participated in Autumn Gallery, Paris
1976: Solo exhibition, Iran-America Society, Tehran
1991: Solo exhibition, Sheikh Gallery, Tehran
1992: Solo exhibition, Seyhoun Gallery, Tehran
1999: Memorial exhibition at the House of Iranian Artists, Tehran
Multimedia Work
1951–1956: Created a filmstrip based on Sadegh Hedayat's short story “Laleh”
Group Exhibitions
2011: Kham, Art Jameel, Dubai
2018: Collector, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2019: 10-20-30, Azad Gallery, Tehran
2020: One by One, Free Designers Gallery, Tehran
2021: Collector 8, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2021: Veteran Artists, Negah Gallery, Tehran
2021: 10th Collector, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2021: Winter Collection of Veteran Artists 1400, Shirin Gallery, Tehran
2021: Main Material, Gallery A, Tehran
2022: Resize, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2023: Lotfi; Intersection of Celebrities 3, Gohye Gallery, Tehran
2023: Veteran Artists Exhibition, Negah Gallery, Tehran
2024: One Collection, Plus 2, Tehran
2025: Pieces of Iranian Modernity, Foundry, Dubai
