Biography

Nasser Ovissi, born in Tehran in 1934, is a renowned Iranian painter, sculptor, and printmaker celebrated for his contributions to the modern art movement in Iran. After earning a degree in Law and Political Science from the University of Tehran in 1956, Ovissi shifted his focus to the arts, relocating to Rome in 1954 to study at the Accademia di Belle Arti. During this time, he cultivated a unique visual language that merged modern Western techniques with traditional Persian aesthetics, aligning him with the Saqqakhaneh movement—an artistic school that reinterpreted Iranian cultural motifs through a contemporary lens.

Throughout his career, Ovissi held diplomatic positions as a cultural attaché in the Iranian embassies in Rome and Madrid, roles that allowed him to promote Iran’s artistic heritage abroad while deepening his own creative development. He rose to international prominence in 1977 with a collaborative exhibition alongside famed Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí in Madrid. Ovissi’s work has since been exhibited globally and is held in major collections and museums across Iran, Italy, France, England, Spain, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, India, Canada, and the United States.

A signature element of Ovissi’s oeuvre is his stylized portrayal of women—ranging from odalisques to brides and mothers—alongside abstracted horses, iconic pomegranates and mythical figures from Perisan history. Drawing inspiration from the Timurid, Seljuk, and Qajar eras, he infuses his compositions with calligraphic rhythms, geometric ornamentation, and vivid color palettes. His use of oversized, abstracted figures and expressive forms echoes Persian miniature painting, while modern elements—such as repeated poetic verses embedded into the canvas—highlight his ability to bridge past and present. Notably, he often repeats a single line of verse across a piece, creating visual cadence and lyrical movement.

Ovissi’s accomplishments have been widely recognized. He received the grand prize at the Tehran Biennale of Fine Arts in both 1962 and 1964, as well as the top honor at the Monaco Contemporary Art Exhibition in 1974. He is also featured in the Benezit Dictionary of Artists, a prestigious reference for art historians, museums, and galleries. His published works include over 15 books in multiple languages—Persian, English, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish—further reflecting his international reach. One notable publication is Omar Khayyam Etchings (1978), which blends visual art with classical Persian poetry.

After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Ovissi left his diplomatic career behind to focus entirely on his artistic practice. He spent several years living in Spain before eventually settling in Virginia, where he continues to create to this day. Despite his global experiences, his work remains deeply rooted in Persian cultural identity, reflecting a lifelong engagement with Iran’s visual and literary traditions. Nasser Ovissi stands as a vital figure in the evolution of Iranian contemporary art—both as a bridge to its heritage and a visionary of its future.