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Mehdi Farhadian

b. 1980

Mehdi Farhadian’s paintings effectively integrate abstract and figurative features to create dreamlike, visually stunning landscapes and city views, inhabited by people and animals commonly engaged in enigmatic acts. His personal style fuses realistic, expressive and fictional narratives, providing a potent vehicle for his highly personal subject matters, which typically demonstrate his deep concern for Iranian contemporary history. This historical approach addresses political highlights and the everyday life experienced collectively. His characteristic iconography originates from sources such as the overflowing vegetation of the Khazar bank in Northern Iran, famous Iranian buildings, and recent historical figures. It is this orchestrated variety that makes up Farhadian’s entirely subjective and original imagery.

His style of painting combines a great respect for details with a powerful handling of contrasting visual effects achieved by pouring and dripping paint. By combining abstract and expressive techniques, his meticulous skill and particular subject matter have saved him a distinctive place in Iranian contemporary painting.

Mehdi Farhadian lives in an old, historically charged neighborhood in Tehran where he was born in 1980. He received his MA in painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran. Since 2010, he has taught painting and drawing at Elm o Farhang University, (Science and Culture), Tehran. Select exhibitions include ART CAPITAL (Comparison), Grand Palais, 2016, Paris (France); The Great Game, Iran Pavilion, La Biennale di Venezia 2015, Venice (Italy); Magic of Persia, Royal College of Arts, 2011, London (UK); and Iran Inside Out, Chelsea Museum, 2009, New York.

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Exhibitions

Parade Square - November 15 - December 21, 2018 - Exhibition Views

Parade Square Series

Sanctums of Decision - September 8 - October 2, 2016 - Exhibition Views

Arte Fuse – Eternal Efforts to Stay Prepared for an Uncertain Future: Painter Mehdi Farhadian Talks to Alannah Farrell About His Latest Work

By: Alannah Farrell   Alannah Farrell Interviews Mehdi Farhadian about his current exhibition Parade Square at Richard Taittinger Gallery. Below is the beginning of her interview: Alan Alannah Farrell: Hi Mehdi, thank you for taking the time to chat with me…

Harper’s Bazaar: Sanctums of Decision

Some cities were meant to be painted. There is the London of JMW Turner, the Nice of Matisse, and the Deflt of Vermeer. When thinking of painterly cities that have inspired works of art, Tehran hardly comes to ming. But in Mehdi Farhadian’s exhibition at Richard Taittinger Gallery in New York this fall, Tehran comes to life in vivid fashion on canvas.

ODD: Sanctums of Decision by Mehdi Farhadian

Sanctums of Decision is a body of intricately detailed portrayals of Iran’s past whilst fusing contemporary history. Iranian artist, Medhi Farhadian explores extravagant interior spaces and gardens then translates them into phantasmagorical scenes featuring people and animals engaged in ambiguous acts. Certain…

The Art Newspaper: Three to see: New York From a New York Ab-Ex anniversary to Bruce Nauman striking a sculptural pose

Pace gallery is celebrating two anniversaries with Richard Pousette-Dart: the Centennial (until 15 October): 75 years since his first gallery show (at Artists’ Gallery in New York) and 100 years since his birth. The show explores the evolution of his…

NewYorkArt.com: Representation of Mehdi Farhadian

Richard Taittinger Gallery is honored to announce the representation of Iranian artist Mehdi Farhadian (b. 1980). The gallery will present Mehdi Farhadian’s first solo exhibit in the US in September 2016. Mehdi Farhadian’s paintings effectively integrate abstract and figurative features to create…

Sotheby’s: Highlights From The Venice Biennale’s Iran Pavilion

VENICE – While many attend the Venice Biennale to savour the perspective of artists looking at the reflection of our collective reality, others seek an even deeper messaging relating to the dialogue between cultures, nations and civilizations. The stories are…

The National: Pavilions from Middle East nations tackle themes of war, displacement and identity at Venice Biennale

A drawing from three years ago by Iraqi artist Salam Atta Sabri is a one-page grid divided into dozens of smaller grids. In the boxes, there are faces, with tyes looking forward, and familiar landmarks, facades of buildings. The pictures…

The Wall Street Journal: Iran: A Defiant Self-Portrait

A new exhibit offers a sweeping survey of works by Iranian artists As Iran seethes from protests over its disputed presidential election, a new museum exhibit in New York explores an aspect of Iranian culture that’s just as rebellious: its…