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A self-taught modernist painter, Taraghijah blended realism with impressionistic and abstract styles to evoke poetic narratives rooted in Iranian folk culture and mystical traditions.

Early Life and Background

  • Born in Tehran, studied mechanical engineering but chose painting.

  • Won the Gold Medal at Iran’s Intercollegiate Art Competition in 1967 (sometimes cited as 1968).

  • Started his professional art career in 1970.

  • Exhibited widely: Tehran, Basel, Paris, New York, Tokyo, Lisbon, Dubai, Beijing, and more. Works held at Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and International Museum of 20th/21st Century Art.

  • UNICEF featured two of his paintings as Christmas cards in 1998.

  • Passed away on August 12, 2010, in Tehran.

Nationality

Iranian artist

Themes

Rural Iranian landscapes and village life , Stylized animals (horses, roosters) , Folk-cultural motifs, often interwoven with poetic and Sufi influences

Early national recognition and international selections point to a celebrated career with honors from both domestic and global institutions. 1967 – Gold Medal, National Intercollegiate Art Competition (Iran) 1971 – First solo show in Tehran; Basel International Art Fair (Switzerland) 1988–2000s – Multiple solo & group exhibitions across Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Paris, Lisbon, New York, Dubai (including Christie’s & Bonhams), and Beirut 1994 – TeMCA acquisition & publication of his works 1998 – UNICEF card selections; participating in Expo 98 Lisbon, India Triennial 2000s – Exhibitions in Beijing, Doha, Washington DC, Queens Library NY, etc. 2007–2009 – Auction presence at Christie’s Dubai and Bonhams Modern & Contemporary Arab, Iranian Art

  • 1967/1968

    Awards

    Gold Medal, National Intercollegiate Art Competition (Iran