Mohsen Vaziri, the Dean of Iranian Artists, in Conversation
Born in 1924, Mohsen Vaziri is an influential Iranian artist who spent significant time in both Iran and Europe, especially Italy. In a July interview held in Rome, he reflected on his artistic journey, which commenced in 1943 at the Tehran Academy of Fine Arts. His initial creations featured sand paintings from 1959 to 1963. After relocating to Rome in 1954, he attended the Accademia di Belle Arti, where he encountered notable artists like Toti Scialoja. Vaziri showcased his work at four Venice Biennales between 1958 and 1964, and one of his pieces was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Following the Iranian revolution, he returned to Italy in the late 1970s. A foundation honoring his legacy, spearheaded by his son Hamoun, is set to launch soon in Rome.
Key facts
- Mohsen Vaziri was born in 1924 and is a dean of Iranian artists.
- He studied at Tehran Academy of Fine Arts in 1943.
- He moved to Rome in 1954.
- He studied under Toti Scialoja at Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome.
- He exhibited at four Venice Biennales between 1958 and 1964.
- The Museum of Modern Art in New York acquired one of his works.
- He taught at Tehran Academy in the 1960s, influencing artists including Abbas Kiarostami.
- He developed interactive wooden sculptures described by Alberto Moravia as prehistoric fossils.
- A foundation for his work will open in Rome, led by his son Hamoun.
Entities
Artists
- Mohsen Vaziri
- Parviz Tanavoli
- Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian
- Luca Arnaudo
- Toti Scialoja
- Pino Pascali
- Jannis Kounellis
- Mohamed Melehi
- Mario Ceroli
- Giulio Carlo Argan
- Abbas Kiarostami
- Alberto Moravia
- Hamoun Vaziri
Institutions
- Tehran Academy of Fine Arts
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- Venice Biennale
- Artribune
Locations
- Iran
- United States
- Italy
- Rome
- Tehran
- Paris
- New York
- Mesopotamia
- Turkey
- Greece