Mehrdad Mohebali stands as a prominent figure among contemporary Iranian painters, celebrated for his evocative figurative artworks. Mohebali embarked on his artistic journey by pursuing undergraduate studies in painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts from 1983 to 1989. His artistic prowess was soon recognized, culminating in his inaugural solo exhibition at Tehran's Green Gallery just three years post-graduation.
In 2000, Mohebali became a distinguished member of the +30 group, comprising artists such as Rozita Sharafjahan, Behnam Kamrani, Ahmad Vakili, Karim Nasr, and Ahmad Morshedlou. This collective aimed to showcase their diverse artistic expressions through various mediums, orchestrating exhibitions across Iran, Japan, Italy, France, and Armenia. Despite disbanding in the mid-2000s, the group left an indelible mark on the contemporary art scene.
Mohebali's artistic evolution continued with his debut solo exhibition at the Golestan Gallery in 1992, followed by his international debut in 2002 with the Gunen Group at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art. Further, Mohebali's participation in the third Paris Biennial in 2002 and subsequent inclusion in a group exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Yerevan underscored his growing international acclaim.
Throughout his career, Mohebali has traversed diverse artistic realms, exploring representation, abstraction, and conceptualization with unwavering design acumen and visual sagacity. In his later works, Mohebali confronts historical and contemporary socio-political issues, often metaphorically portraying the intricacies of human interaction, where he assumes a central role. Notably, Mohebali's emphasis on bodily forms, particularly joints rendered in exaggerated and tense states, imbues his paintings with an expressive aura. This distinct characteristic extends to his visceral brushwork, revealing a profound engagement with the interplay of paint and emotion.