Shaya Shahrestani
“In my opinion, drawing has a close connection to every individual’s lived experience. Since pain is an inseparable part of life, my drawings essentially reproduce human suffering, somewhat offering masochistic relief. Thus, my two-dimensional and three-dimensional works are based on this foundation. Creating lines and textures, whether through sculpting and carving the material to achieve the desired form, or by pressing the effective material on paper to create an image, gives substance to the lived experience. In other words, experientialism, improvisation, indeterminacy, and activism are common elements between life and drawing.”
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Born 1972, TehranEDUCATION
1995 | BA, Painting, Azad University of Art, Tehran, Iran
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 | The Witness, Drawing Exhibition, Iranshahr Gallery, Tehran
2020 | Original Narrative, Drawing Exhibition, Iranshahr Gallery, Tehran
2014 | Post-Nostalgic, Sculpture and Installation Exhibition, Aun Gallery, Tehran
2003 | Painting Exhibition, Shabda Gallery, Tehran
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 | The 13th Persbook Contemporary Art Event, Second Part: Rooted in Soil, Lo i House, Yazd
2024 | And Poetry Will No Longer Serve, Azad Gallery, Tehran
2023 | Melancholia 1, Vali Gallery, Tehran
2023 | Visionarium, Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran
2022 | Self Portrait, Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran
2022 | A Place to Stand, Sculpture Group Exhibition, Malek Gallery, Tehran
2022 | Zero Waste, 11th Annual Contemporary Art Persbook, Iranshahr Gallery, Tehran
2021 | Boundless, Sculpture Group Exhibition, Rischee29 Gallery, Tehran
2020 | Gere-O-Gir, Online Group Exhibition
2019 | What If Not Exotic, Building Bridges Art Exchange, Los Angeles
2019 | Notebook, Afrand Art Gallery, Tehran
2019 | The Stone Treasure, Persian Gulf Museum, Kish Island
2017 | 7th Annual Exhibition of Isfahan Contemporary Art Galleries, Isfahan
2017 | Pair, Sculpture & Tapestry Exhibition, Knack Gallery, Tehran
2016 | Contemporary Painting Exhibition, National Parliamentary Library of Georgia, Tbilisi
2012 | Extraterrestrial, Sculpture & Painting Exhibition, Aun Gallery, Tehran
2007 | Tapestry Exhibition, Niavaran Gallery, Tehran
2006 | Painting Exhibition, Niavaran Gallery, Tehran
2004 | The First Tehran Art Expo, Tehran
2004 | The 4th Annual Exhibition of Galleries & Cultural Heritage, Tehran
2004 | The 6th Tehran Contemporary Painting Biennial, Tehran
1995 | Manifesta on of Feeling II, Tehran
ART FAIRS
2022 | Contemporary Istanbul, Contemporary Art Fair, Presented by Iranshahr Gallery, Istanbul
2021 | Contemporary Istanbul, Contemporary Art Fair, Presented by Iranshahr Gallery, Istanbul
ACADEMIC POSITIONS, LECTURING, JURY MEMBERSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS & RESIDENCIES
2025 | Did-Art, Contemporary Art Talk Series, Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran, Iran
2025 | Jury Member, 6th Jokal Painting Festival, Shirin Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2021 | Jury Member, Isfahan Symbol Event, Isfahan Contemporary Art Museum, Isfahan, Iran
2016 | Artist in Residence, Paint for Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia
PUBLICATIONS (SELECTED)
2025 | “The Language of War: How Art Confronts Conflict,” Tajrobeh Magazine, No. 42, p. 101
2024 | “Opaque Bodies,” in Women, Art, Freedom, Pamela Karimi, pp. 88–89
2020 | “One Cannot Live at Any Cost, Yet One Must Stand,” Morvarid Bimonthly, Shervin Taheri,
No. 18, p. 89
2020 | “The Pain We Endure,” Donya-e-Eqtesad Daily, Rasoul Rakhsha, No. 5012
2020 | “We Did Not Speak, You Depict It,” Shargh Daily, Mina Akbari, No. 3847
2020 | “A Reading of ‘Original Narrative’ by Shaya Shahrestani at Iranshahr Gallery,” Etemad Daily,
Helina Maryam Ghaemi, No. 4758
2020 | “What If Not Exotic? Cri cal Perspectives in Contemporary Iranian Art,” Woman’s Art
Journal, Donna Stein, Vol. 41, pp. 63–64
2014 | “Remnants of Lalezar,” The Guardian
2014 | “Veteran Visual Artists at the Largest Private Museum,” ISKA News
2014 | “Now the Heavy Wave of Passing Time,” Circle of Tajrish, Mahsa Farhadi-Kia
2013 | “Aun Gallery Hosts Sculptural Drawings by an Artist,” ISNA News Agency
2013 | “Aun Gallery Hosts Abstract Forms by Shaya Shahrestani,” ILNA News Agency
2013 | “From Two Perspectives,” Engar Analy cal Magazine, Saleh Tasbihi
2013 | “For the Exhibition ‘Post-Nostalgic’ by Shaya Shahrestani,” Peleh Magazine, Mostafa Dashti
2012 | “Echoes of Our Extraterrestrial Wonders at Aun Gallery,” Honar Online, interview with
Bobak Etminani
2012 | “Walking on Another Planet,” Tandis Art Magazine, Zahereh Donya-Dideh
2012 | “Extraterrestrial,” Honar Farda, Mahsa Farhadi-Kia, No. 9, p. 9
2007 | “A Fabric of Thread and Glass,” Zanan Magazine
2005 | “Painting, Color, Love,” Dokhtaran Magazine, Hani Sharar, No. 42



