Nasser Ovissi

Iran | 1934
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About Nasser Ovissi
Nasser Ovissi, a multifaceted artist renowned for his contributions to the neo-traditionalist and Saqakhaneh movements in Iran, embarked on his artistic journey after earning a degree in political science from the University of Tehran in 1956. His quest for artistic mastery led him to Rome, where he delved into various disciplines including painting, pottery, goldsmithing, and lithography, ultimately receiving an art diploma.

Ovissi's talent was quickly recognized, earning him the esteemed Work View of Tehran Painters award in his debut exhibition in 1956. Over the years, he showcased his works in numerous solo and group exhibitions across Iran, earning accolades such as recognition at the third and fourth Tehran Biennials in 1962 and 1964. His tenure at the State Department and extensive stays in Rome and Madrid facilitated his engagement with global art communities, leading to exhibitions of his works in countries like Brazil, America, Italy, France, and Japan, alongside celebrated artists such as Picasso, Chagall, and Dolly. Notably, Ovissi received the High Prize at the International Art Exhibition of Monaco in 1974, solidifying his status as a luminary of modern Iranian art. His influence extended beyond borders, meriting inclusion in prestigious art references like the Thirteen-Volume French Encyclopedia of Art (Benzite) and "In Answer to Art," a seminal text in American art history education, which dedicates a page to Ovissi's engravings for Khayyam's poems.

In the early stages of his career, Ovissi gravitated towards Impressionism before embracing the indigenous aesthetic elements of Iranian art. By the early 1960s, he endeavored to meld these elements with Western painting techniques, aligning himself with the Saqakhaneh movement. His artistic vision drew inspiration from the rich tradition of Timurid and Seljuk tiles and pottery, as well as the opulent artistry of the Qajar period. Notably, Ovissi integrated the rhythmic grace of calligraphy into his modern paintings, forging a unique aesthetic synthesis. Esteemed art critic Julio Carlo Argan lauds Ovissi's works as straddling the realms of poetry and painting, with a style imbued with calligraphic rhythms.

Throughout his oeuvre, recurring motifs such as horses and women serve as vehicles for Ovissi's subjective and abstract exploration of Iranian painting traditions. In an interview with Javad Mojabi, he articulates his affinity for subjectivism and abstraction, challenging Western realist norms. Ovissi's artworks have garnered widespread acclaim within Iranian artistic and literary circles. Nader Naderpour lauds him as "the illustrator of adult dreams beyond our childhood stories," while Ehsan Yarshater hails him as "the true heir of beauty in the style of the golden age of Iranian art." Javad Mojabi celebrates Ovissi's ability to transcend temporal and spatial constraints, capturing the essence of Iranian humanistic romantic mysticism.
The Most Expensive Artwork
ArtChart | Horses by Nasser Ovissi
Horses
Realized Price
At Auctions
First Attendance
24 May 2006
# Attendance
123
# Artworks
185
Average Realized Price
12,433 USD
Average Min Estimate
8,440 USD
Average Max Estimate
11,935 USD
Sell-through Rate
51.397%
Average Growth of Artwork Worth
32.067%
Timeline
All Art Fairs Auctions Exhibitions
2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
Articles
هیف قهرمان، بازار (1387).
A Review of Sotheby's and Millon's Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art Auctions in Spring 2024 1 May 2024
As we step into the spring of 2024, the Middle Eastern art auction season is in full bloom, maintaining its biannual rhythm with showcases in both autumn and spring. Two events of particular note occurred on April 25th, 2024, hosted by both Sotheby's & Millon. This marked the commencement of the year's inaugural Middle Eastern art auction, promising a captivating exploration of...
From the Sepehri's trees to the painting's of Pooya Aryanpour; An overview of the Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern auctions at Bonhames and Millon 29 May 2023
The modern and contemporary art auction was held on May 24, 2023 in Bonames and Millon & Associes auction houses. Iranian artists such as Sohrab Sepehri, Manouchehr Yektaei, Parviz Tanavoli and Marco Grigorian to younger ones such as Pooya Aryanpour were participated in these auctions and some of them were among the most expensive one's that were sold. This report is an overview...
The Artist and the Community Do Not Meet Each Other's Mutual Needs; In the Panel of Painters 12 January 2022
We had meetings with some of the most famous contemporary painters, roundtables, seminars or whatever you want to name. Mansoureh Hosseini, Nasser Oveisi, Jazeh Tabatabai and Abdolreza Daryabeigi participated in this discussion. Important and fundamental issues arose regarding the advancement of the cultural and artistic goals of the society. And suggestions were made by artists tha...