Afshin Pirhashemi

 The work of Iranian painter Afshin Pirhashemi examines the complexities of life in modern day Iran. On sparse or empty backgrounds, his largely monochromatic, photo-realistic depictions of women nod to gothic fantasy in an exploration of issues of contemporary social and political identity.

Born in 1974 in Urmia, Afshin Pirhashemi lives and works in the city. His works are housed in public and private collections throughout the Middle East and Europe and he is the recipient of awards from the 2003 Tehran 6th International Art Biennial, and the 2004 Beijing Art Biennial Award. Solo exhibitions include Homa art Gallery, Tehran (2009); Seyhoun Art Gallery, Tehran (2005); and Barg Gallery, Tehran (2005). Group exhibitions include In & Out, Milan (2009); Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran (2006); Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran (2004, 2003). 

Afshin Pirhashemi, the young ingenious experimentalist painter was born in 1974 in Tehran. He began painting in childhood and held his first exhibition when sixteen at Bamdad Gallery, Tehran, while simultaneously participating in a group exhibition at Seyhoon Gallery.

Refusing to cut his long hair he was forced to change high schools until he finally convinces his father whose library he preferred to school, to yield to his son’s wish to study arts, thereby obtaining his bachelor of arts in 2007 from Azad University, Tehran. Before that he received a grant from the Italian Ambassador to study at Rome Art Academy for two months.

His works do not find their way to any biennials inside the country until 2004 when he wins the juror’s award as well as the visitors’ prize for the best work, and in the following year, he wins the prize for ‘excellent work’ in the second Beijing international art biennial.

To this day Afshin Pirshami has held 15 solo exhibitions and participated in more than 50 group exhibitions inside and outside the country.

His success in Tehran’s sixth painting biennial followed by Beijing biennial opened his way to major art auctions. While the hammer on his works and thus his fame began to sound continuously louder, particularly after April 2010 Dubai Christie’s auction when his Rapture triptych sold for $554500.