Shahriar Ahmadi

Shahriar Ahmadi

Shahriar Ahmadi, a contemporary painter, was born in 1979 in Kamyaran, Iran. He completed both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in painting at Tehran University of Art, receiving his Master’s degree in 2005. Ahmadi began his artistic journey as a self-taught calligrapher in his youth and later trained at the Kermanshah School of Visual Arts, including under Bijan Akhgar. His first solo exhibition took place in 2000 at Barg Gallery in Tehran, followed by numerous exhibitions at galleries such as Elaheh, Golestan, D, and Mah. His works quickly gained recognition, and his international presence began in the late 1990s, ranging from a solo exhibition at B21 Gallery in Dubai to AB Gallery in Lausanne, as well as participation in events such as the Meridian Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., and Art Expo Beijing. Ahmadi has received prestigious awards, including the First Prize at the Asia-Oceania Painting Competition (1995), First Place at the International Youth Competition (2002), and the International Islamic World Painting Biennale award (2006). Ahmadi’s paintings form a synthesis of abstract expressionism, Persian miniature painting, and mystical literature, particularly the poetry of Rumi. Thick layers of color, powerful brushstrokes, and symbolic use of line define his distinctive visual language. His works have been presented at international art fairs, biennales, and major auctions including Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Bonhams. The Italian publisher Skira celebrated 25 years of his artistic activity with a monograph, Shahriar Ahmadi, published in 2022.

Resume

Solo Exhibitions

2000, Sama, Barg Gallery, Tehran
2001, Barg Gallery, Tehran
2002, Shir va Arbab, Elaheh Gallery, Tehran
2003, Parrot and Merchant Story 1, Elaheh Gallery, Tehran
2004, Parrot and Merchant Story 2, Golestan Gallery, Tehran
2004, Looking Back, Barg Gallery, Tehran
2006, What is Matter, Golestan Gallery, Tehran
2007, Rumi in My Chalice 1, Mah Gallery, Tehran
2008, Rumi in My Chalice 2, B.21 Gallery, Dubai
2011, Ancient Alchemy Techniques, AB Gallery, Zurich
2011, Mi'raj, Etemad Gallery, Dubai
2013, Shahriar Ahmadi: Key Works 2008–2012, AB Gallery, Lucerne
2013, Recent Works 2009–2013, Etemad Gallery, Tehran
2013, Kiss, AB Gallery, Zurich
2022, Shahriar Ahmadi Works, Niavaran Cultural Center, Tehran
2024, The Great War, Plus 2, Tehran
2025, Under the Blue Dome, Shirin Gallery, Tehran

Group Exhibitions

1995, Young Artist, Avini Cultural Center, Kermanshah
1997, Kermanshah Painters Association, Avini Cultural Center
2000, Fereshteh Gallery, Tehran
2001, Conceptual Art, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art
2001, 5 Shahrivar, Barg Gallery, Tehran
2002, Annual Iranian Contemporary Design Ceremony, Barg Galler
2002, Gallery of Art, Iran
2003, Barg Gallery, Tehran
2005, D Gallery, Tehran
2005, Mah Gallery, Tehran
2005, Aban Gallery
2006, Wishes and Dreams, Meridian Cultural Center, Washington, D.C.
2008, Etemad Gallery, Tehran
2008, Mah Gallery, Tehran
2008, Famous Iranian Artist, Golestan Gallery, Tehran
2009, Contemporary Iran, Silk Road Gallery, Tehran
2010, Silent Situation, Jaddeh Art Gallery, Hokkaido
2010, Iran Meets Wiesbaden, Nero Gallery, Germany
2011, Color of Love, Asar Gallery, Tehran
2012, Wonderland, Shokouh Gallery, Tehran
2013, Peace from the Depths of My Heart, Opera Gallery, London
2013, Short Stories, Dar al Funun Gallery, Kuwait
2014, Zoo, Shirin Gallery, Tehran
2014, Abstraction and Expression, Mellat Gallery, Tehra
2014, 50 Contemporary Artists, Mah Gallery, Tehran
2016, Summer Exhibition, Contemporary Sofia, London
2016, Contemporary Iranian Art, Setareh Gallery, Düsseldorf
2016, Made in Iran, Art Club, Konstanz
2016, Iranian Painters Association, Isfahan Museum of Contemporary Art
2016, Shabtāb 2, Tarahan Azad Gallery
2018, Summer Exhibition, Mah Gallery
2018, 100 Works, 100 Artists, Golestan Gallery
2018, Illustrated Tales, Plus 2, Tehran
2018, Illustrated Tales, Zirzamin Dastan, Tehran
2019, Great Masters of Iranian Art, Han Gallery, Shiraz
2019, Neo-Expressionism, Shirin Gallery, Tehran
2019, 40-50-60, Tarahan Azad Gallery, Tehran
2019, Contemporary Iran, Shuleh Abghari Gallery, Marbella
2019, Atlas of My Dreams, Nicolas Flamel Gallery, Paris
2020, Tough Skin, Shirin Gallery, Tehran
2020, One by One, Tarahan Azad Gallery, Tehran
2020, Approaches and Trends 3, Shirin Gallery, Tehran
2021, Iranian Basketball Becomes, Paris
2022, Inquiry, Ex Homa, Tehran
2023, Selected Contemporary Artists, Art Center, Tehran
2024, Forty, Thirty, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2024, Lessons, No. 34, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
2025, Reflection of Two, Eight/8 Gallery, Tehran

Biennales

2003, 6th Painting Biennale, Tehran Museum of Contemporary
Art
2004, 3rd Islamic World Biennale, Saba Cultural Center
2006, 4th Islamic World Painting Biennale, Awarded
2015, 56th Venice Biennale, Italy

Art Fairs

2008, Art Dubai, UAE
2010, Slick Art Fair, Paris
2010, Art Fair Istanbul
2011, Art Zurich, Switzerland
2011, Contemporary Munich
2011, Art Istanbul Contemporary
2011, Scope Basel, Art Basel
2011, Art Duba
2012, Art Abu Dhabi
2012, Scope Basel
2018, Abu Dhabi Art
2018, Art Dubai, Zirzamin Dastan
2018, Abu Dhabi Art, Shirin Gallery
2021, Abu Dhabi Art, Shirin Gallery

Awards

1995, Asia-Oceania International Painting Competition, Japan
1996, 5th Iranian Youth Festival
2002, First Prize, International Youth Competition, Tehran
2006, 4th Islamic World Painting Biennale, Awarded