Afshin Pirhashemi is a distinguished contemporary Iranian artist renowned for his photorealistic artworks, prominently featuring themes centered on Iranian and Middle Eastern women.
Born in 1974, Pirhashemi began his artistic training under Babak Etminani before enrolling at the Islamic Azad University to pursue painting. However, he did not complete his studies, choosing instead to leave the university and later attending a three-month training course at the Academy of Arts in Rome, facilitated by a scholarship from the Italian government. His inaugural solo exhibition took place in 1990 at the Bamdad Gallery in Tehran. Over the years, Pirhashemi's focus has shifted towards the Persian Gulf countries, especially Dubai. Since 2012, he has primarily collaborated with Ayyam Gallery, with only sporadic exhibitions in Iran.
Commercially, Pirhashemi has achieved considerable success. His name frequently appears on prestigious lists such as Artprice and FIAK, ranking him among the world's best-selling artists. His accolades include winning the Sixth Iranian Painting Biennial Award in 2003 and selection for the Beijing Biennial in 2005.
Pirhashemi's artistic palette is often restricted to black and white, though he has incorporated red at various stages of his career. The narrative depth of his work shows a significant influence from cinema, notably evidenced in several paintings that feature characters like Don Corleone from Coppola’s "The Godfather." Renowned art historian Pakbaz has commented on Pirhashemi's approach, noting, "In his photorealistic paintings, Pirhashemi addresses the theme of womanhood with a mystical outlook. His recent works, typically set against a stark white background, seek to evoke a sense of eternity and grandeur. The mother figure symbolizes love and nurture, while also representing the earth and fertility. Yet, she remains a figure of struggle against oppression and inequality globally."
Pirhashemi himself reflects on his motivations and perspectives: "My greatest motivation is to explore this unique world through my art, portraying these narratives from a male perspective, and highlighting the multifaceted experiences of women."