Ardeshir Mohassess (1938-2008) was a prolific, influential and internationally renowned Iranian artists. He graduated from the University of Tehran with a degree in Political Science in 1962 and soon became a full-time illustrator. Best known for his drawings, his cartoons and illustrations have appeared in various publications, including Keyhan-e Hafteh and Tehran Journal, as well as The New York Times and The Nation. Works of Ardeshir Mohassess have been shown in notable venues such as Musée d’Art Moderne and Asia Society Museum, they have been acquired by prestigious collections such as the Library of Congress and Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, and they have adorned the pages of more than ten books. Ardeshir Mohassess has influenced many Iranian cartoonists and illustrators, making it impossible to consider the tradition of drawing and figurative painting in Iran without him. His career spanned over half a century, a century with decisive turns in Iran’s socio-political environment. This exhibition marks the debut of this work in the region, and the first time any of these works have been made available for purchase.
