Reza Lavasani, a contemporary artist from Iran, has made significant contributions to painting, sculpture, illustration, and theater design throughout his career. He is particularly renowned for his depiction of the horse archetype in both his sculptures and paintings, which, in a sense, encapsulate the essence of Rumi and Hafez's poetry within the realm of modern art.

Lavasani embarked on his artistic journey by studying graphics at the Tehran Boys' Conservatory, later pursuing painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Tehran, where he graduated in 1991. His debut solo exhibition took place three years later at Aria Gallery, marking the beginning of a prolific exhibition history that includes showcases at renowned galleries such as Barg, Elahe, and Azad Gallery. Transitioning to sculpture in the late 1970s, Lavasani employed "Papier-mâché" to craft pieces that earned him the fourth Tehran Biennial of Contemporary Sculpture Award in the 1980s. Additionally, he has been honored with the Noma Concours Award in Tokyo on three occasions.

His paintings often possess a sculptural quality, especially evident in works like "Horses," which incorporate mythological themes. Lavasani skillfully depicts the bark of horses and the foliage of trees with vibrant purple and yellow hues, imbuing the surfaces with a sleek, metallic sheen. His exploration of positive, negative, and porous spaces in rendering the forms of plants, humans, and horses further underscores this sculptural aspect. Rouyin Pakbaz discusses the resonance between Lavasani's art and Iranian pictorial and literary traditions, noting the enduring fascination with three motifs—horses (symbolizing speed and nobility), women (symbolizing sacred fertility), and birds (acting as messengers between heaven and earth)—that Lavasani frequently employs in his work.

In an interview with Siamak Filizadeh, Lavasani reveals insights into his artistic process, stating, "I draw inspiration from ancient Indian and Iranian paintings. Poetry precedes the mental imagery in my art. I find great joy in the works of Rumi; they evoke captivating spaces within my mind." He describes how reading Rumi's poetry evokes mythical imagery, which he then endeavors to capture on canvas.