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Raha Gallery’s Collection

  • Massoud Arabshahi, the eminent Iranian painter, was born on September 10, 1935, and passed away on September 16, 2019. On the occasion of his birthday, we revisit one of his remarkable works housed in the Raha Gallery Collection. This painting stands as a clear example of Arabshahi’s enduring approach to mythic abstraction. Throughout his career, such works reflected his lifelong concern with reimagining the visual language of ancient Iran in a contemporary form. In terms of both scale and technique, the piece ranks among his important works, simultaneously embodying painterly mastery and intellectual depth.

  • On July 17, 2024, Iranian artist Farhad Moshiri passed away at the age of 61. A groundbreaking figure in Middle Eastern contemporary art, Moshiri made history by setting two million-dollar records at international auctions. His unique engagement with pop art rendered his practice iconic in the region, to the extent that in 2017, the Andy Warhol Museum in the United States dedicated a solo exhibition to his work.

  • Raha Gallery Collection

    Reza Mafi with a Half-Century-Old Work in Raha Gallery’s Collection — A unique work by Reza Mafi — a complex minimalist piece woven with Eastern-Iranian finesse — created nearly half a century ago, reflects the genius of an artist whose life lasted only 39 years.

  • Raha Gallery Collection

    The color palette of “Composition”, a work by Hossein Zenderoudi held in the Raha Gallery Middle East Collection, evokes the essence of earth, soil, and natural elements. Combined with the use of organic forms, it conveys a deep sense of connection to nature and tradition. The contrast between the warm colors and bold black lines adds to the strength and visual impact of the piece.

  • In his painting Oasis, Parviz Kalantari captures a vivid portrait of a bygone way of life—homes turned inward, courtyards filled with trees, and alleyways that served not only as thoroughfares but also as spaces for human connection. In this frame, Kalantari both revives the memory of those days and subtly critiques the modern disconnect between people and their roots or environments.

  • Raha Gallery Collection

    Reza Derakshani's piece “They Hunt Turquoise, They Hunt Blue, They Hunt the Pink,” housed in the Raha Gallery collection, exemplifies the vibrancy of Iranian history and culture; a culture that continues to evolve and change in spite of its ups and downs. Derakshani has managed to achieve a contemporary portrayal of Iranian history in this work of art.