Reza Aramesh

Reza Aramesh (b. 1970) is a contemporary artist focusing on photography and sculpture. His works depict violence and oppression in the world by representing themes taken from political and social events and images which are published in the news media. ... Read full biography

1970
Born in Iran
1997
Received his M.A. in fine art from Goldsmiths University, London
2001
Group show, "Heart of Glass", Curated by Esther Windsor, London College of Printing, London
2004
Awards, London Arts Research and Development Grant, Arts Council
2006
Award, Arts Council of England grant for the "I am a Believer" show hosted by the ICA
2009
Solo show, "Live Action 71", Late at Tate Britain
2010
Nominated for a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Visual Artists
2012
Group show, "The Elephant in the Dark", Curated by Amirali Ghasemi, Devi Art Foundation, Gurgaon, India
2014
Solo show, Ab-Anbar Gallery, Tehran
2016
Solo show, "Reza Aramesh", Leila Heller Gallery, Dubai
2017
Art fair, Art Dubai, Represented by Leila Heller Gallery
2019
Tate Museum has acquired two works by Reza Aramesh, UK
2019
Solo show, "Reza Aramesh - 12 noon, Monday 5 August", Asia Society Museum, New York
2019
Solo show, "Action 180", Leila Heller, New York

1970
Born in Iran
2004
Awards, London Arts Research and Development Grant, Arts Council
2006
Award, Arts Council of England grant for the "I am a Believer" show hosted by the ICA

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Reza Aramesh (b. 1970) is a contemporary artist focusing on photography and sculpture. His works depict violence and oppression in the world by representing themes taken from political and social events and images which are published in the news media.

Reza Aramesh was born in Tehran and immigrated to England as a teenager. He received a bachelor's degree in chemistry but later became interested in art and studied for a master's degree in fine arts at Goldsmiths University, London.

The main theme of his works is the study of how conflicts and violence are reflected in the mass media around the world and the reconstruction of the related scenes. By choosing an image from the news media and focusing on it, he once more makes the audience take a close look at the event and the people involved. By eliminating other parts of the image and concentrating on the facial expressions and body language, this artist speaks of the effects of war and violence on people, regardless of their nationality and race.

The solo show "Friday April 25, 2003, at 07:55" which was held in 2015 at Leila Heller Gallery was his first solo show in New York. The title of the exhibition, which included several photographs and sculptures, is based on the memoirs of two journalists who witnessed a violent incident by US troops against Iraqi prisoners. This collection visualizes the images of war like his other works.

Other solo shows of Reza Aramesh are, "Picture This...", "Live Action 71", "Reza Aramesh-12 noon, Monday 5 August", and "Action 180". Also in 2014, Ab-Anbar Gallery in Tehran hosted his photos, installations, and videos.

His sculptures, which he calls "action", photographs, installations, and performances have been exhibited many times in many of the world's most important art centers, including Barbican Centre, Tate Modern, and ICA, London. In 2019, Tate Modern Museum purchased two works by Reza Aramesh.

In 2006, Reza Aramesh won the Art Council England Award for his live solo performance entitled "Live Action: I Am a Believer". The council is organized by the British ICA. Also in 2010, he was nominated for the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for visual arts.

In recent years, Reza Aramesh's latest works have been exhibited at many art fairs: Art Dubai by Leila Heller Gallery, Asia Now by Plus 2 Paris, Art 021, Shanghai by Dastan's Basement, FIAC, and Artissima. Also, the group show "The Great Game" at the 56th Venice Biennial and «Summer Group Show» at the Royal Academy in London in 2019 have hosted a number of works by this artist.