The Armory Show 2025
For the upcoming edition of the Armory Show, O Gallery is pleased to present a selection by six of its artists whose practices reflect the understanding of perception by Maurice Merleau-Ponty. In his 1945 book “Phenomenology of Perception”, Maurice Merleau-Ponty argues that the body is not merely an object situated in space—it is the very starting point for our perception of space. In other words, space is not simply a neutral or objective set of coordinates; it is a lived space—a space that acquires meaning through the body, personal and historical experience.
Miyan
“Miyan”—the studio offers an ongoing exploration of body and mind through practice and experience. The idea for “Miyan” grew from a simple, honest need: the lack of a place in the heart of the city to pause, step away from the rush, and just be—without pressure, without performance. A place to reconnect with the body, time and creativity; not to achieve a specific outcome, but to be present, to feel, to experience.
Mehrali Razaghmanesh; One of the 7 Winners at “Talents Contemporains” 14th edition by François Schneider Foundation in France
Reflecting current contemporary creation, the “Talents Contemporains” competition, initiated more than 10 years ago by the François Schneider Foundation, enables the European and international artistic scenes to be explored on the particular theme of water. An original collection has thus been built up, presenting artists who have graduated from art schools as well as atypical self-taught artists. Nearly 90 works now form a singular ensemble that runs counter to certain institutional trends, exhibited both in the art center and increasingly circulating in different regions.
Zakiehe Rahimi at sarv_e_naz_gallery
O Gallery has always sought to maintain strong ties with cities beyond the capital, a commitment evident in its ongoing efforts to feature artists from across the country. This year, we are working even more intentionally to expand our presence in other cities. By organizing exhibitions and events outside Tehran, we aim to foster deeper connections between artists and audiences, while also gaining valuable insights and feedback from diverse local contexts. In line with this ongoing effort, O Gallery is pleased to present a selection of works by Zakiehe Rahimi (b. 1949 Tabriz) in Shiraz, in collaboration with sarv_e_naz_gallery.
Art Dubai 2025
For its third participation at Art Dubai, O Gallery presents works by Iranian artists Donya Aalipour (b. 1995 Tehran, lives and works in Austria), Armin Ebrahimi (b. 1984 Tehran, lives and works in Tehran), Ali Ganjavi (b. 1980 Sari, lives and works in Tehran), Ali Nassir (b. 1951 Tehran, lives and works in Berlin) and Ashkan Sanei (b. 1984 Urumieh, lives and works in Tehran). Through a blend of historical references, symbolism and reflection on contemporary social issues, these artists invite us to question how identity is formed, lost and rediscovered in a constantly changing world.
Makaan’s first Pop-up Show and Open Studio
Aknoon Group Exhibition Makaan’s first Pop-up Show and Open Studio: Makaan Arts offers a communal hub for Bay Area and visiting CWANA artists. It is a place for creative exchange, for artists to reflect, experiment and collaborate. Makaan’s first pop-up show and open studio with current and upcoming artists in residence opens at MSP studios on March 1st and runs through March 3rd 2025.
On Arash Sedaghatkish’s show by Hoofar Haghighi
… In Arash Sadaghatkish’s recent show at O Gallery, grotesque figures are combined together in a realistic texture, based on lived memory. This range of expression extends to realistic landscapes which have been stained with abstraction through the expressionist strokes of the artist. A kind of disorder has been arranged in a favorable way through the artist's arrangements.
Between Ornament and Structure
“Between Ornament and Structure”, a recent text by Farniyaz Zaker was recently published in “The Textile Museum Journal, which disscus carpets in Modern Art and Architecture.
“The Boundaries of My World,” written by Mohsen Azmoodeh, is about Ali Vaziri’s third solo show, “Territory – To Live,” at O Gallery in Etemad newspaper
Mohsen Azmoodeh reviewed Ali Vaziri's show "Territory - To Live" in No. 5858 of Etemad newspaper, in which he discusses two of Vaziri's main concerns. He considers Vaziri's sculptures to be beyond organic forms and beautiful artifacts, viewing them as works that represent a broader concern.
Nature’s Renewal at Ronewa Art Projects
Nature’s Renewal, a collaboration between O Galley (Tehran) and Ronewa Art Projects (Berlin) is an exhibition of works by six Iranian artists whose works explore the theme of nature/landscape in different ways. A similar exhibition was originally set to take place in August 2023 at Ronewa Art Projects but was postponed. The current exhibition will take place during Berlin’s Art Week concurrent with Paper Positions Berlin, where O Gallery will be showcasing different works by two of the artists in this exhibition.
Ali Nassir at Sevil Dolmaci Dubai’s Group Show “Unreal Realities”
Works from Ali Nassir are currently exhibited in the group show "Unreal Realities"at Sevil Dolmaci Dubai. The exhibition will continue until June 1st. Ali Nassir (b. 1951 Tehran) is presented with his most recent paintings where he creates a harmonious blend of restless memories, chaotic environment and complex issues merged with the intrinsic beauty and joy of life, turning his work into a continuous attempt at expanding this sense of aesthetics. The interplay of form, color, movement and composition in Nassir’s works are meticulously interconnected. Within his paintings, one can encounter urban symbols,
Amir Soghrati in conversation with Ali Nassir
This book, a product of Amir Soghrati’s dialogues with Ali Nasir over the past few years, is an effort to record the emotions, feelings, thoughts and worldview of Ali Nassir as one of the influential artists in the contemporary art history of Iran. Writing and publishing oral history books of contemporary art in Iran, away from memoirs and reminiscences, is a new and essential aspect in the field of visual arts and this book has taken a part to that endeavor.
“Tajrobe” in conversation with Ali Nassir overviews his recent exhibition at O Gallery and Lajevardi Foundation
"Tajrobe" magazine in its 22nd edition, overviews Ali Nassir's body of work in an interview with the artist and an overview on his recent exhibition showcased concurrently by O Gallery and Lajevardi Foundation in June 2023.
“Authority Magazine” in conversation with Orkideh Daroodi: Successful Women Founders
Introducing O Gallery, Authority Magazine interviewed Orkideh Daroodi around the subject of successful women founders. In this conversation, Daroodi talks about setbacks and advantages of women being entrepreneurs. Sharing her personal experiences, as one of the women gallerists and founders in Iran, she speaks about hardships, capacities, and preventive wrong beliefs along this path.
“FAB L’STYLE” in conversation with Orkideh Daroodi about Iranian Galleries’ Issues during the Events of Last Year
In an interview with “FAB L’STYLE”, Orkideh Daroodi talks about Iranian galleries’ issues during the events of the past year. She openly speaks about the issues and the reasons of O Gallery’s hosting shows during the upheavals last year, covering both sides and point of views on the operation of galleries during that time. Daroodi also talks about the role of galleries in Iranian art society and the importance of physical display of works despite the advancement of virtual presentations during Covid, in addition to Iran’s Contemporary Art in relation to international art market.
“Kaltblut.” in conversation with Orkideh Daroodi on O Gallery and Emerging Artists
Kaltblut online magazine introduces O Gallery and today’s art scene during an interview with Orkideh Daroodi. In this interview, Daroodi talks about Iran’s art scene’s issues and potentials, explaining about the reasons behind the gallery’s foundation and its goals, such as fostering emerging talent.
O Gallery at Paper Positions Munich 2023
O Gallery is pleased to announce its participation at Paper Positions Munich 2023 with a presentation of works on paper by Ashkan Sanei.
Ashkan Sanei at NADA Curated: Multipolar Promotional Materials
We live in an era where balance has come to represent a kind of utopia; an expression of the desire to find better circumstances for the broadest spectrum of the population. Political resistance has been driven towards opposite poles, reducing our nuanced idiosyncrasies, geographical conditions, diverse doctrines, and interests. Multipolar brings together artworks highlighting income inequality and social, political, and ecological emergencies.
Ali Nassir’s Documentary Screening
O Gallery is thrilled to announce the screening of "Untitled", a portrait documentary that portrays the life of Ali Nassir between 2019 and 2022 in Tehran and Berlin. The film includes interviews with artists and active experts in the art world about Ali Nassir's work and his role in the formation of parallel and progressive worlds in each of these geographical locations. Tehran as his birthplace and the place where he spent his early years and is still in close contact with and Berlin as his residence; a place that gave Nassir the opportunity to find his own aesthetics by focusing on painting. The film includes visits to the artist's studio, glimpses into his shows at his Tehran gallery, the university environment where he studied and taught and candid talks about the driving force of many of his works. The first screening is scheduled for Wednesday June 28th, 5 PM at Iranian Artist Forum's Documentary Cinematheque.
Ali Nassir’s Survey Exhibition at Lajevardi Foundation
The upcoming exhibition will be on display in two parts in O Gallery and Lajevardi Foundation from June 23 to July 21, 2023. O Gallery will focus on showcasing recent works by the artist while Lajevardi Foundation will showcase the artist’s works created between 1980 and 2020 as well as never before exhibited pieces in Iran. A more comprehensive retrospective, co-curated by Hoda Arbabi and Orkideh Daroodi, was originally set to open in TMOCA in the Fall of 2022 but was canceled due to the artist's and both curators' mutual decision.
Ashkan Sanei’s “Archive” series in the collection of Haus Des Papiers
We are pleased to announce that two works from Ashkan Sanei’s “Archives” series is now in the collection of Haus Des Papiers (Berlin’s Paper Museum).
Photo London Magazine Issue 100: Echoes from Iran
To mark the magazine’s first century (100th edition), we wanted to focus on artists from Iran. Not simply because there are more Iranian artists than ever before showing at this year’s Photo London. But also, because Iran is currently witnessing a rolling revolution started by women fighting against injustice and brutal suppression. The artists featured here come both from the diaspora and from Tehran itself and the work we are showcasing takes many different forms. -excerpt from the magazine’s introduction.
“Top 10 Highlights You Must See at Photo London 2023” Joanne Shurvell of Forbes places the presentation by O Gallery amongst the top 10 at 2023 edition of Photo London.
“Top 10 Highlights You Must See at Photo London 2023” Joanne Shurvell of Forbes places the presentation by O Gallery amongst the top 10 at 2023 edition of Photo London. A fascinating and important contribution from Tehran-based O Gallery, a platform that supports and displays Iranian artists’ distinct visual experiences. The two street photographers here, Kaveh Kazemi (b. 1952) and Mohammadreza Mirzaei (b. 1986), are two of Iran’s most prominent photographers. Kazemi documented the 1979 revolution and the Iran-Iraq war. Mohammadreza Mirzaei is one of the new generation photographers, who, by studying in the West, has established a critical relationship with mainstream Western photography.
“Four Things to see at Photo London 2023” – selected by Eddy Frankel of Time Out
This year, there’s a special focus on galleries and photographers from Iran, including Tehran’s O Gallery, showing work from the Iranian revolution by Kaveh Kazemi and contemporary street scenes by Mohammedreza Mirzaei. Iran has been in the news constantly since the 1970s, and photography has been integral in telling the story of a nation often caught in turmoil.
O Gallery at Photo London 2023
Established in Tehran in 2014, O Gallery is a platform that supports and displays Iranian artists' distinct visual experiences, emphasizing 'visuality' as a critical tool. For the gallery, ‘form’ is not a mere aesthetic element; it is a characteristic of criticism that, in its ideal state, goes beyond the standardized aesthetic norms and makes the concrete meaning of the works problematic. Where semantic and visual limitations are challenged, 'form' then acquires social relevance. The two photographers selected for the upcoming edition of Photo London, Kaveh Kazemi (b. 1952) and Mohammadreza Mirzaei (b. 1986), are two prominent photographers in contemporary Iranian photography, each of whom is known for different characteristics. Kazemi is known for his brilliant press history, having worked with publications such as Time, Newsweek and the New York Times.
O Gallery Is a Member of NADA (New Art Dealers Alliance).
Excited to announce that O Gallery is now a member of NADA (New Art Dealers Alliance). About NADA and its mission: Founded in 2002, the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) is a not-for-profit collective of professionals working with contemporary art. Our mission is to create an open flow of information, support and collaboration to develop a stronger sense of community among our constituency. We believe that the adversarial approach to exhibiting and selling art has run its course.
O Gallery at Paper Positions Berlin 2023
O Gallery is pleased to announce its participation at Paper Positions Berlin 2023 with a trio presentation of works on paper by Mojtaba Amini, Raha Khosroshahi and Farzad Majidi. From April 27 – 30 2023, during the Berlin Gallery Weekend, the seventh edition of Paper PositionsBerlin presents 56 international galleries from 12 countries with their outstanding positions from contemporary and modern art with a focus on drawing and the material paper.
“Enclaves” a solo exhibition by Farniyaz Zaker at Kendrew Barn Gallery
Farniyaz Zaker’s project "Enclaves" revolves around the themes of exclusion and belonging. It explores how our language, clothes and built environment engender controlled and delimited spaces and communities that can both foster and suppress our physical and mental selves.
Financial Times: Ripping apart art: Iran’s cultural world strained by protest and politics
Daroodi, who was also conscious of the running costs of her premises, said she believed her decision to reopen had been justified. "The gallery as we knew it before doesn't exist anymore and artists are becoming more creative. Conversations have changed - as if the gallery has turned into a new refuge for artists," she said. "It is the atmosphere that matters now, not necessarily what's hung on the walls. Why should we deprive ourselves of the few private safe spaces left to gather and talk about art and everything else?"
O Gallery at Art021 Platform
For the upcoming edition of Art021 Platform, O Gallery proposes a curated presentation by four of our artists: Ali Nassir, Shideh Tami, Ashkan Sanei and Armin Ebrahimi to highlight the artists’ very personal moments of introspection, rooted in their lived experiences as well as collective histories and memories. The works of the selected artists are deeply embedded within this uncertain time, evoking cautions, questions and desires. The online platform is available for viewing November 3 - 20 2022.
O Gallery at Asia Now 2022
Certainty is the undeniable and irresistible knowledge of something. When defining our reality, certainty compels us to substitute the rational analysis processes with those based on memorization. Uncertainty, on the other hand, appears as the opportunity to generate a thinking process that responds to the realities of the unknown or changing nature.
Espronceda Artist-in-Residence Prize was awarded to Maryam Mohry for a one-month residency in Barcelona
Maryam Mohry is the winner of this year’s Espronceda – Artistic Residency Award, in collaboration with Swab Art Fair. Espronceda offers artistic residencies for international artists and the opportunity to exhibit in Barcelona. The Center also programs concerts, workshops, curated exhibitions and professional meetings with established international artists to diffuse culture and promote education.
Maryam Mohry at Swab Barcelona 2022
O Gallery is pleased to announce its participation at SWAB Barcelona 2022 with a solo presentation of works by Maryam Mohry. Fueled by lighthearted naive sensibility and sarcasm, Maryam Mohry’s works on paper have a certain narrative quality, indicative of her passion to fully immerse in the process of creation and experimentation. Taking advantage of the translucent quality of watercolor and staying away from applying thick layers of paint, she finds watercolor and gouache best for crafting impulsive and plausible stories. Also a talented sculptor, while addressing environmental concerns, she keeps a sense of playfulness in both her drawings and soft sculptures. By offering notes of cartoonish eeriness in the humanlike expressions of her characters, she keeps the “game” of storytelling connected within all her works. Maryam Mohry currently lives and works in Tehran and has been the subject of several national solo and group exhibits.
Ashkan Sanei in “Drawing Wow 3”
A work by Ashkan Sanei is featured in “Drawing Wow 3”, an exhibition entirely dedicated to drawing. After two editions in Berlin – Drawing Wow 1 (2019) at BCMA and Drawing Wow 2 (2020) at Kunstsaelen – Drawing Wow 3 will now take place in Vienna. The exhibition is curated by artists Anna Gille, Philip Loersch, Tim Plamper, and art historian Sarah Petersen and runs from September 7, 2022 to October 1, 2022. Drawing Wow is a non-commercial artistic platform that is concerned with the long-term and sustainable mediation and linking of both contemporary and classical drawing positions.
Maryam Mohry at NADA Curated titled “Reduction to Satire”
The second edition of NADA Curated—a new series of online exhibitions highlighting artists and art spaces from NADA’s international community through curated thematic presentations—features 21 artists present by 17 galleries. The exhibition titled Reduction to Satire (Reductio ad Satura), will be curated by Fatoş Üstek, independent curator and writer and will launch in August 2022. Reduction to Satire (Reductio ad Satura) is a newly coined term for the NADA Curated series. It is a hybrid term, borne out of the juxtaposition between two distinct approaches of engaging with the truth.
“Greenhouse No. 2; A False Memory” Maryam Mohry’s Installation at Pasio of Mohsen Projects in Collaboration with O Gallery
In “Greenhouse No. 2; A False Memory,” a continuation of her Greenhouse series, Maryam Mohry considers greenhouses as a place for experimenting and playing. The space provides an opportunity to experience nurturing and fabricating as well as recounting and partaking in a conversation. Playful ironies and continuous storylines are the main features of Maryam’s works that have always been created in a fluid and unpretentious fashion due to her cheerful approach and simple materials.
Paper Award’s First Prize Was Awarded to Afshan Daneshvar, with 5 Works Acquired by Haus des Papiers (Berlin’s Paper Museum)
We are delighted to announce that Afshan Daneshvar (b. 1972 Tehran) has been awarded the first prize of “Paper Art Award” for her exceptional works presented by O Gallery at Paper Positions Berlin.
New Approaches to Modern Iranian Art 1950-1979 – Organized by Mohammadreza Mirzaei and Sven Spieker
In recent years, the historical trajectories and global entanglements of Iranian art before the Islamic Revolution have become subject to increasing debate and conversation, resulting, among other things, in a series of high-profile exhibitions. With this in mind, Mohammadreza Mirzaei and Sven Spieker have organized a one-day symposium at the University of California, Santa Barbara that aims to involve emerging scholarships of pre-1979 Iranian art in a discussion about their research. The organizers aim to provide a platform for these scholars to dialogue critically with each other and the invited audience about innovative approaches and methodologies for the study of Iranian art during the period in question.
Ideas for Entering Into the Realm of Beauty
And they are pieces of a long poem that, when put together, embrace you and me and invite us to a heartfelt dialogue by redefining space and matter. Slowly, majestically and steadily.
O Gallery at Artissima 2021
O Gallery is pleased to announce its participation at Artissima 2021 with a duo presentation of works by Ashkan Sanei and Farniyaz Zaker. Ashkan Sanei’s aesthetics is based on destruction and repetition and in his practice, he swings between creation and destruction. The fragility and vulnerability of paper, his chosen medium, allows him to leave traces in his work rather than specific objects, reminiscing rather than directly indicating. Currently living and working in Tehran, Ashkan Sanei (b. 1984 Urumieh) has participated in many solo and group exhibitions in addition to co-curating “The List - Works on Paper” project with the gallery.
Mohammad Hassanzadeh’s Book, “Oil: Height of Depth”
"Oil: Height of Depth", a collection of works by Mohammad Hassanzadeh published by Pejman Foundation. The main idea behind "Oil: Height of Depth" project is rooted in the confrontations and transformations in Iran’s southwest after the discovery of oil: historic/geographic configurations that have reminded within human and natural environments that forcefully resisted change, and where traces of this residence appear in different areas like unhealed wounds.
A work by Shideh Tami published in “Reflections, contemporary art of the Middle East and North Africa” at the British Museum
Shideh Tami published in the book “Reflections: contemporary art of the Middle East and North Africa” by the British Museum Press.
“Works by Iranian artist Ashkan Sanei showcased at Drawing Room Madrid” by Tehran Times
"Sanei’s works have been selected by Tehran’s O Gallery for the online exhibition, which will run until May 30.
“In Between Homage and Parody: On Relationships Between the Practices of Bahman Mohassess and Marino Marini” by Mohammadreza Mirzaei
"Bahman Mohassess (1931–2010) is from the generation of Iranian artists who travelled to Italy in the 1950s to study at Italian academies. Mohassess spent time in the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome, and after returning to Iran in the 1960s, he played a prominent role in the new Iranian art scene. Although he was not Marino Marini’s pupil, Mohassess’s practice demonstrates a special relationship with Marini’s art.
Drawing Room Online Art Fair
O Gallery is pleased to present 5 works by Ashkan Sanei in the upcoming edition of the Drawing Room fair. The international online fair will take place from May 15th to 30th with 19 international galleries presenting only 19 shows by artists from around the world. In addition, works by Amir Karimi, Ghazal Khatibi, Maryam Mohry, Niloofar Lohrasbi, Pegah Rajamand and Razieh Sedighian are presented in the store section of their site.
Review on Ameen Moazami’s show “Streets of Tehran” by Alireza Rezaei Aghdam of Herfeh: Honarmand Magazine, Issue number 77
"Painting outdoors, especially in the city, confronts the artist with many different challenges; the most important of which is the increase in the number of variables; such as the change in light and shadow, and the movement of vehicles and people. Transforming the great and crowded atmosphere of the city into a two-dimensional surface is yet another matter that the artist must solve in a short amount of time.
Review on Mohammadreza Mirzaei’s Works by Pooya Karim of Herfeh: Honarmand Issue number 67
Review on Omid Moshksar’s Works by Karim Mirzade Ahari of Herfeh: Honarmand Issue number 67
Review on Mohammad Khalili’s Exhibition at O Gallery by Vahid Hakim of Herfeh: Honarmand Magazine
The Nature of Curating
Curating and the role of the curator is one of the major issues in the contemporary art field. 3 days of workshop under the guidance of media artist Shahram Entekhabi including screening of recordings of talks with international curators with Farsi subtitles followed by discussions Date and Hours: Wednesday March 1st: 6-9 PM /Thursday March 2nd: 2-5 PM/ Friday March 3rd: 2-5 PM @OGalleryTehran The Nature of Curating In Iran, the art galleries are almost the only functioning model of exhibition practice. A contemporary non-profit institutional system is hardly existing as well as curatorial studies.
Alireza Ahmadi Saei of Herfeh Honarmand Magazine Reviews Razieh Sedighian’s Exhibition at O Gallery
Limited Edition Silkscreen Prints by Ali Nassir
5 of Ali Nassir's works available now in silkscreen prints, edition of 13, sponsored by Lajevardi Foundation
Samila Amir Ebrahimi of Herfeh Honarmand Magazine Reviews Mohammad Khalili’s Exhibition at O Gallery
Alireza Rezaee Aghdam of Herfeh Honarmand Magazine Reviews Shahla Hosseini’s Exhibition at O Gallery
Mehran Mohajer of Herfeh Honarmand Magazine Reviews Mohammadreza Mirzaei’s Exhibition at O Gallery
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Gallerists, but … Farsi Version Available Now
The Farsi version of "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Gallerists But Were Afraid to Ask" will be available to purchase at the gallery, starting on Friday, December 12 2014. Written by Andrea Bellini and translated by Orkideh Daroodi, the book has been published in Iran by Nazar Art Publication and will be released nationwide on the Saturday after.
Between Ornament and Structure
“Between Ornament and Structure”, a recent text by Farniyaz Zaker published in “The Textile Museum Journal, which disscus carpets in Modern Art and Architecture.