Shahram KARIMI
Shahram Karimi (born 1957) is a contemporary postmodern and experimental artist active in the fields of painting, design, installation, multimedia arts, and film production design. His artistic language is inspired by the seemingly contrasting cultures of East and West, which in his work find a global expression.
Born in Shiraz, Karimi was immersed in the cultural atmosphere of the city from a young age, gaining early exposure to painting, cinema, poetry, and literature. As a young man, he moved to Tehran and studied art at the University of Decorative Arts. Following the Cultural Revolution, he was forced to leave university and continued painting as a self-taught artist. In 1987, Karimi emigrated to Germany, where he became acquainted with the visual cultural achievements of Western artists.
Karimi’s work is equally nourished by the heritage of Iranian culture and poetry and influenced by modern Western art. His unique style merges these two worlds. Unlike many of his contemporaries in Iranian modern art, he has moved somewhat beyond the traditionalist wave. He avoids common symbolic elements found in the works of Iranian modernist artists, such as calligraphy, traditional motifs, and visual references to miniature painting. Nonetheless, Karimi remains deeply rooted in his Iranian background—culture, poetry, and Eastern mysticism continue to inspire his work and play a significant role in his artistic vision.
Karimi has held numerous solo exhibitions at many major international venues, including the Siegburg Museum and the House of Art in Troisdorf (Germany), Brigitte Schenk Gallery (Cologne), Leila Heller Gallery (New York), as well as in Iran at the Iranian Artists Forum, Etemad Gallery (Tehran), and Vesal Gallery (Shiraz). His work was also featured in the 8th Istanbul Biennial of Painting.
In 2008, the book “Shahram Karimi: Contemporary Artists of Iran” was published by Nozhat Publishing House, presenting a selection of his works along with a profile of the artist.
In addition to painting, installation, and video art, Shahram Karimi has also worked as a production designer in cinema, collaborating with artists such as Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari. Films he contributed to include “The White Meadows” by Mohammad Rasoulof, “Women Without Men” by Shirin Neshat, “Desert Dancer” by Richard Raymond, “The Passage” by Shoja Azari, and several others. In the 2000s, Karimi received the Golden Lion Award and the Special Jury Prize at the Dubai International Film Festival for his production design. In the 1990s, he also won first place in the Rhein-Sieg “Art Prize”.
Karimi’s earlier paintings often feature portraits and human figures juxtaposed with natural elements like plants and landscapes. His more recent works are a combination of landscape painting and video art, presenting animated visions of nature. Notable works from this period include “Dreamscape”, “Blue Serenity”, “Misty Mountains”, “Yellow Calm”, and “The Poet’s House”, which have been exhibited in various solo and group shows and sold at Tehran Auction, Van Ham Art Auction, and Phillips London.
His latest solo exhibition, held in 2020 by Golestan Gallery in Tehran, was presented online. His work has also been showcased in major art fairs such as Art Dubai, Art Cologne, Contemporary Istanbul, and Abu Dhabi Art.