فارسیShahriar Ahmadi (born 1979, Kermanshah) is one of the prominent contemporary Iranian painters whose works are formed on a dynamic border between Iranian tradition and modern expression.
The most important feature of his paintings is the continuous movement between figurative and abstract expression, as well as the reinterpretation of the components of Iranian painting in a contemporary format.His paintings depict an atmosphere full of dynamism, suspense, and a kind of “uncertainty”; as if forms are simultaneously forming and collapsing.
Ahmadi began his artistic career as a teenager with self-taught calligraphy. He then entered the Kermanshah Art Academy and was a student of Bijan Akhgar for a period. He continued his university studies in painting at Tehran University of Art until his master’s degree, and received his master’s degree in 2005.
His first solo exhibition was held in 1990 at the Barg Gallery in Tehran, and since the early 1980s he has been known for his series such as “Sama”, “The Lion and the Master”, “The Tale of the Parrot and the Merchant”, and “Looking Back” at the Barg, Elahe, and Golestan Galleries.
Ahmadi’s visual language is based on a combination of painting and calligraphy, bright colors, energetic strokes, and symbolic elements.The writing around or within his works is often illegible and creates a formal and symbolic quality rather than carrying meaning. Frequent references to Iranian painting, book layout, literary narratives, and calligraphy are set in a context of abstract expressionism; thus, his works are not reconstructions of the past, but rather its re-creation in a personal and modern form.
Thematically, Ahmadi’s works have a deep connection to Iranian mystical literature, especially the poems of Rumi. The titles of many of his collections also refer to these literary sources, including “Moulana in My Cup” and “What is Matter?”At the same time, he was also influenced by the modern art movements of the West, and the names of artists such as Paul Cézanne, Joan Miró, Paul Kelle, Francis Bacon, Cy Twombly, and Franz Kline are mentioned in the analysis of his works. However, the result of his work is not imitation, but the formation of a personal language that connects Iranian tradition with contemporary pictorial expression.
Edward Lucy Smith, a prominent art critic, points to the gradual “Iranianization” of his works and considers Ahmadi’s ability to translate the elegance and agility of Iranian penmanship into the medium of acrylic on canvas to be one of his important advantages; a characteristic that has ensured that his borrowings never become mere imitations.
Ahmadi has had a prominent presence on the domestic and international scene since the early years of his professional career. He has held more than 15 solo exhibitions in cities such as Tehran, Zurich, Lucerne, Dubai, Istanbul, and Marbella, and has participated in more than 150 group exhibitions in Iran and various countries.His works have been exhibited at major art fairs such as Art Dubai, Abu Dhabi Art, Scope Basel, and the 56th Venice Biennale (2015). His notable group shows include “Basketball Becomes Iranian” and “Atlas of My Dreams” (Paris), “Contemporary Iranian Art” (Düsseldorf), “Made in Iran” (Germany), and “Summer” (London).Among his important solo exhibitions in recent years are “The Kiss”, “Important Works 2008-2012”, “Ancient Alchemical Techniques” (Switzerland), and “Ascension” (Dubai).
In 2022, a large exhibition of his works was held at the Niavaran Cultural Center in Tehran, which coincided with the unveiling of the Shahriar Ahmadi monograph published by Escira International Publishing (Italy); a book that provides an overview of his 25 years of artistic activity.
Ahmadi has received numerous awards, including the First Prize in Asia-Pacific Painting (1995), first place in the International World Youth Competition (2002), and the Statue of the International Islamic World Painting Biennial (2006).His works are held in private and museum collections and have been offered and sold at prestigious domestic and international auctions, including Tehran Auction, Christie’s Dubai, Sotheby’s London, and Bonhams London.
In addition to his artistic activities, Ahmadi has also been active in the field of education, managing and teaching painting groups at university centers for many years. He currently lives and works in Karaj.