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Tavakkol Esmaeili, known as “Mash Esmaeil”, was an Iranian sculptor born in 1923 in Qazvin. In 1963, he began working as a janitor at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran. Having learned the basics of shaping forms in his father’s coppersmith workshop, he went on—under the guidance of faculty members, especially Parviz Tanavoli—to achieve international recognition. His works were widely exhibited during the 1970s and received significant acclaim. A self-taught artist, Mash Esmaeil is best known for his iconic “Goat” series. He primarily worked with metal scraps—especially iron—using a spot-welding technique. Several of his sculptures are installed in public spaces across Tehran, including the Faculty of Fine Arts, Azadi Sports Complex, Sa’dabad Cultural and Historical Complex, and Jamshidieh Park. Tavakkol Esmaeili passed away in 1994.
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1973
Created the sculpture “Quilt Maker”, held in Grey Art Gallery
Created the sculpture “Goat”, held in Grey Art Gallery
2014
Group exhibition, “Zoo”, Shirin Gallery, Tehran
2015
Summer group exhibition, Mah Gallery, Tehran
2016
Group exhibition, “50th Anniversary: 50+5 Contemporary Iranian Artists”, Seyhoun Gallery, Tehran
Group exhibition, Commemoration of the First Anniversary of the Collective Show of Visual Art Masters, Irik Gallery, Tehran
Group exhibition, “Between Two Days”, Honar-e Emrooz Gallery, Tehran
Group exhibition, Works by the Veterans of Iranian Art, Did Gallery, Tehran
Group exhibition, “Amordad”, Afrand Gallery, Tehran
Group exhibition, Summer Art Mart, Sohrab Gallery, Tehran
2017
Group exhibition, “+96”, Afrand Gallery, Tehran
2018
Group exhibition, “Open Sale”, Azad Art Gallery, Tehran
Group exhibition, “In the Color of Sky”, Land of Art Gallery, Tehran
2019
Group exhibition, “Painting and Sculpture Show”, Servanaz Gallery, Shiraz
2022
Group exhibition, “Modernism Collector, July 2022”, Artibition Gallery, Tehran
