Past Shows

Three of my paintings—Bounce, Light Hall, and Portal Mystique from my Architectural series were selected for the Hickok Cole Art Night 2025 Annual Auction (Oct 16), which was the 25th anniversary of this event supporting the Washington Project for the Arts (WPA) and local artists.

My participation came by invitation, followed by an extensive jury selection process. I am thrilled that three of my works were chosen for this significant fundraiser, and one of them, Light Hall, sold at the opening. Art Night raised $141K+ for WPA and the local arts, making it one of their highest fundraisers in 25 years.

I had a solo exhibition by the invitation of the curator, Roya Chadab at the Iranian-American Community Center as part of Patterned Nuances, a three-artist exhibit featuring works by Iran Davar Ardalan, Sookkyoung Park, and my own.

My section included 33 pieces created between 2015 and 2025, presenting a retrospective look at my artistic journey over the past decade. This exhibition showcased how I have expanded my main series by transforming linear divisions into perspective cuts, thereby generating my color fields within a simulation of depth. The majority of the works were created between 2023 and 2025, as my collections have become more diverse in recent years.

The exhibit ran from September 7 to October 5 and received notable recognition, including a positive review from DC’s prominent art critic, Mark Jenkins, in his October 3, 2025, coverage of local galleries.

Lily Den from my Perspective series was selected by Kyle Hackett, the independent juror of The Art League’s September 2025 Open Exhibit.

The exhibit was on display from September 10 to October 5.

About the selected piece:

Calla lilies have found refuge in a den under the steps of an alley in an old town. Inspired by my place of birth, Tabriz, Azerbaijan, Iran, I created this nostalgic space to invite all viewers to walk in with their own sense of Deja Vu.

Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Art Center, The Smithsonian, Juried Exhibit

Inner Garden from my Perspective series was selected and received the Juror’s Award (1 of 3) for the Imaginary Worlds: Invented Spaces and Places Exhibit at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center (an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution), juried by Dr. Margaret A. Weitekamp, Department Chair and Curator of the Space History Department, National Air and Space Museum.

This exhibition invited viewers to explore visionary landscapes, fantastic cityscapes, and surreal dreamscapes crafted by contemporary artists. Blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination, the exhibition showcased artwork that transported audiences to new and unexpected realms. Each piece served as a portal into an artist’s unique, invented world, inspiring wonder and curiosity. There is a heavy emphasis on worlds created by artists as opposed to preexisting fictional universes. Click here for the exhibit catalogue.

Duration:

May 9 – September 21, 2025

A few words about the artwork:

This painting is part of my Inner Gardens collection, which is a part of the larger Architectural series. It is inspired by nature reclaiming abandoned buildings. I created a sense of space that allows the viewer to imaginatively enter, connecting with both our inner and environmental awareness.

Stretch from my Figurative series was selected and awarded an Honorable Mention by Jessica Randolph, the independent juror of The Art League’s August 2025 Open Exhibit. This painting was also featured by East City Art, a leading voice in documenting and promoting the city’s thriving visual art culture.

About the selected piece:

Stretch is mixed media: pastel, acrylic, ink, collage and pigment print on a 36×36″ wood panel. Here, I present a male figure in a state of physical extension, adorned with patterns inspired by African body art and batik fabrics. The figure’s skin displays a mosaic of colors and designs, reminiscent of various African tribal adornments. This detailed application on the figure contrasts with the background elements, which feature bold colors such as lime green and fuchsia alongside architectural or abstract lines. The title ‘Stretch’ refers to the figure’s pose, and also acknowledges the ongoing resilience and endurance required amidst current hardships and conflicts present in parts of Africa. The painting combines traditional artistic influences with contemporary elements.

Castle Fields, from my Colorfield series, was selected by John Wellington, juror of the Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) The Power of Color Art Exhibit, Summer 2025, at the Circle Gallery in Downtown Annapolis.

I was among the 55 artists selected from 533 entries, and this piece was sold in this exhibit.

Duration: July 30–August 23

Concept:

As a colorist, all my works pivot around color. However, the Colorfield series is mainly characterized by intense color with a broader spectrum.
Spending most of my life in Washington, D.C., with access to significant works by the founders of Washington Color School, I’ve further developed colorist and color-field styles by introducing familiar forms or complex abstract expressions.
In this painting, I employed versatile contemporary media to achieve a diverse range of layering techniques.

Quantum Gravity from my Perspective series and Fallout from my Figurative series were selected for Pink Thread, a pop-up art exhibit based on D.C. WorldPride’s “The Fabric of Freedom.”

This was a good place to see how local artists express their quest for freedom and support for the LGBTQ+ community’s ongoing fight for equality, visibility, and justice.

Exhibition duration: Wednesday, June 11 – Wednesday, August 27

Eclosion from my Baroque series was selected for the Essence exhibit at the Athenaeum Gallery, Alexandria, VA.

This exhibition showcased the diverse ways in which DMV artists have captured a person’s (or persons’) essence—the physical and intangible characteristics that define us.

I was honored to be part of this highly competitive exhibit among the 50 artists selected from almost 500 submissions.

About Eclosion:

One of my Braoque series, I created this painting to explore the concept of emergence amidst falling. The figure within it represents a state of transition. Forms extending from the figure’s back suggest a development, a breaking free. I positioned the figure in a recline, a posture often associated with rest or contemplation, but here, it indicates the moment of change itself.

The environment around the figure is constructed with geometric planes and lines. I used these elements to define the space and provide a structure that both contains and allows for the unfolding event. The color variations within these planes and on the emerging forms indicate shifts in light and atmosphere. Through this work, I aimed to present a visual representation of the internal and external processes involved in a significant transformation.

Fleeing Flares from my Figurative series was selected by Nicole Maloof, the independent juror of The Art League’s July 2025 Open Exhibit.

About this painting:

Fleeing Flares depicts the uncertainty and war in the current global affairs, and yet builds upon the hope in the void ahead. I’ve combined my analog sketches digitally for this piece and had it professionally printed with archival pigments on cotton canvas, then selectively painted over.

My first solo show, in 2025, took place at Black Iris, a reputable private gallery located in the vibrant Art District along Broad Street in Richmond, Virginia. This exhibit was by invitation and marks my debut in the Richmond art scene. It featured a curated selection of my recent paintings.

We had a great opening reception on June 6, as part of the Richmond First Friday Art Walk.

Chroma Terra from my Colorfield series was selected by Andrei Kushnir, the independent juror of the month, for the June 2025 Landscape Exhibit at The Art League, Alexandria, VA.

About my art:

In the Landscape collection within my Colorfield series, I overlay lines and grids with slight or intense color shifts from the background color fields to explore and expand the chromatic push-and-pull. This particular work is a hybrid digital-analog painting, some of the composition created digitally, printed on watercolor art paper, mounted on wood and painted and sketched over with ink and acrylic markers. In doing so, I achieve color combinations that are not possible with a single medium. The other characteristic of this painting is bending the perspective in a flattened sphere format (think of a flattened hemisphere map)—something I was experimenting with for the first time.

I was thrilled to have been invited by McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) to be the featured artist in their 2025 Spring Benefit. Paintings from my Spring 2024 Solo Show, Inner Gardens, are used for the theme of the 2025 fundraiser—A Sea of Art. A dozen of my paintings from the same collection, most of which I created after the solo show, were displayed, and several were sold for the fundraiser during the event night.

It was an honor for me to be part of this initiative to help our local art and artist community.

Winter Refuge from my Inner Gardens collection, Perspective series, was selected by the independent Juror, Phil Hutient, for Hill Center Galleries 2025 Regional Juried Exhibition in Capitol Hill, Washington, DC. Consequently, it was chosen for the cover of Capitol Hill’s magazine, Hill Rag, March 2025. I am flattered that my art was featured for the second time on the cover of Hill Rag magazine, as one of my previous displays at the same gallery was featured on the cover of the March, 2024 issue.

Exhibit Duration: January 13–May 3, 2025

Concept: 

Winter Refuge depicts an imaginary indoor garden with a lily pond, a snowy day on the left window, floral motifs and geometrical color blocks, all abstracted. This is, in fact, a color field painting. I used my signature perspective cuts in this painting and segmented the artboard into several canvases, each deserving and competing for attention.

The first editions of two of my hybrid (digital/analog) paintings, Tracked & Traced (1/3) and Prey (1/3), from my Figurative and Baroque series, were selected for and both sold at the Washington Project for The Arts (WPA) 2025 Collectors’ Night Gala; the annual art auction Thursday, May 1, 6:00–9:30 pm. The auction, hosted online on Artsy from April 18 to May 2, featured over 100 artworks by some of the most exciting contemporary artists from New York to Richmond. Proceeds from the auction directly benefited the participating artists and WPA, as all sales were split 50/50.

For the first time, free public viewing hours were held two weeks before Collectors’ Night, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of WPA.

Media and Concepts

Tracked & Traced:

Layered mixed media; acrylic, ink and pigment print on 24×24” water-media cradled wood panel portrays our modern life of being watched by the markets and government agents online and outdoors.

Prey:

Layered mixed media; pencil, ink, and pigment print on 30×24” water-media cradled wood panel reflects on victims of immigration and predefined gender identities trapped in the web of establishments.

My painting, Abandoned from my Inner Garden collection, Perspective series, was selected by Joey P. Málapaz, juror of Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) Reflecting Art Exhibit, Spring 2025 at MFA’s iconic location, Circle Gallery in Downtown Annapolis.

This was my first participation at MFA, excited about being featured at the heart of one of my favorite art-loving cities in the Mid-Atlantic, Annapolis.

Duration: March 26–April 26

Closing In-Person Reception: Saturday, April 26, 4–6 pm

Concept:

Nature and plant life reclaiming abandoned buildings have been a particular source of inspiration for this painting, which connects with our environmental consciousness. White lotus flowers grow in a flooded abandoned bar or perhaps in mid-air, as there is no clear ground, just abstract reflections and refractions—the void between what is recognizable and the unknown. The viewer is invited to fill in the gaps.

Media:

Mixed media: watercolor, ink and pigment print on water media wood panel

My miniature painting Fractum Terra, from the Colorfied series, was selected and awarded an Honorable Mention by Elaine Qiu, the independent juror of the month for the April 2025 miniMAX Exhibit at The Art League, Alexandria, VA. This painting was sold the day after the opening and replaced by Fractured Land from the same series, which was also sold a few days after!

About both paintings:

In paintings of this series, I’ve evolved the traditional color field paintings characterized by the Washington Color School, which I studied in depth, into compositions with quasi-perspective grids and elements of nature and architecture as color fields that push them towards somehow recognizable landscapes with a hybrid process—acrylic and ink on pigment print of digital art on heavy art paper mounted on wood.

Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Art Center Juried Exhibit

Swan Song from my Perspective series was selected by Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center In Association with the Smithsonian Institution for the Fragments: Reflections on Memory Art Exhibition, displayed in the Kay Daugherty Gallery of the center for two months.

This exhibition explored how individual and collective memory can shape our identity and perception and influence our understanding of the world. Memory intertwines with our daily lives and is a fluid, shifting narrative.

Duration:

February 21 – April 27, 2025

A few words about the artwork:

Swan Song is a visualization of orchestral music inspired by classical music. Fragmented color fields vibrate at different levels. I use multidirectional perspectives to mimic musical harmony and my childhood memories of the first large classical performances I attended. The swan with a cut-off reflection is lost in the vast man-made interior, depicting our endangered nature; hence, the swan’s last song.

A Valintine’s Art Event

I was invited to add my work to the Transformer’s FlatFile Collection, starting with the Annual Heartbreakers Ball. I participated in this awesome Valentine’s Night event with 15 limited print editions of hybrid digital-analog paintings, including many pieces from my new 2025 Love Pond series and two from my Valentine’s collection I did in 2024. This was a success with a few sales and most importantly seeing so many of my followers whom I invited and connecting with new art lovers.

The Ball was at The Line DC in Adam’s Morgan, one of my favorite meet-up places.

The Pursuit of Happiness from my Baroque series was selected for Strathmore’s 33rd Annual Juried Exhibition: Full Circle.

The historic Mansion, located near The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, MD, presents exhibitions featuring local, national, and international artists. Its annual juried exhibits are one of the DC area’s well-thought-of art venues, and I am truly excited to have been part of this.

Concept:

The Pursuit of Happiness, 48×36″ acrylic on canvas, is an intuitive abstract painting using geometrical and organic forms as color fields to express different feelings. It pursues happiness despite pain and embraces the imperfections and flaws that throw the balance out—the innocence that is forgotten.

Doubt from my Figurative series was selected by Eric March, the independent juror of the month for the January 2025 Open Art Exhibit at The Art League, Alexandria, VA.

Concept: 

Inspired by classical masters, I abstracted a female model, adding an accurately painted hand that did not necessarily belong to her, bent the perspective, and interfered with realism further. I completed this during the 2024 New Year holidays (last year, this time). At this time of gift exchange, many have little to give or receive, and many have doubts about who to give to and expect. I leave the interpretation to the viewer. With figurative morphs and a Venetian Scaramouche mask on the top left, the narrative is left obscure.

Process and Media: 

Doubt is both a multimedia and mixed-media painting. I digitally combined and altered images of my separate studies on paper and canvas using pastel and acrylic. I then professionally printed the digital collage on museum-grade archival canvas (stretched on heavy-duty double-wood bars) and hand-embellished it with acrylic and pastel.

I am honored to be recognized as one of the 51 living and working artists who have shaped, inspired, and impacted the dynamic cultural scene of Washington, DC, both past and present, as this exhibition honors the vibrant creative landscape of the District of Columbia, and champions the local artistic community.

Read The Washington Post Article > I am mentioned in the last paragraph.

Artists were selected by a panel of three jurors: Caitlin Berry- Irene and Richard Frary Gallery Inaugural Director, Nehemiah Dixon III- Phillips Collection Senior Director for Public Programming and Community Engagement, and Anisa Olufemi- Curator and Hamiltonian Artists Fellowship Manager. Two paintings from my Inner Gardens collection, Perspective series, were juried for this exhibit.

My painting Mise-en-scène from my Architectural series was selected by Joe Gyurcsak, the independent juror of the month for the December 2024 Interiors Art Exhibit at The Art League, Alexandria, VA.

Concept: 

Mise-en-scène is another painting in which I utilize geometrical shapes generated from an imaginary interior as color fields. In this painting, the refraction and reflection of light add to the depth of the chromatic arrangements, inviting the viewer to walk in and explore.

Process and Media: 

I created the composition outline digitally, transferred it onto the watercolor paper, mounted it on a wood panel (20×24″) and painted it with acrylic and spray paint.

I am deeply grateful for being invited to participate and sell my art at the 2024 Transformer’s Annual Auction Exhibition & Benefit Gala, Transcendence. This event, in collaboration with the Austrian Embassy in DC and the American University, was a celebration of innovative contemporary art and artists that rise above the fray, with 160+ artworks in a variety of mediums by a dynamic mix of emerging and more established artists. All proceeds from Transcendence supported Transformer and the participating artists. I was thrilled the auction’s jurors selected three of my paintings, recognizing my artistic journey. I sold two of my paintings with multiple bids in this event, and I am pleased that my art has contributed to the growth of our artist communities.

Many thanks to those who attended my art talk on November 16 and purchased my paintings on the gala night on November 23.

A few words about the jurors and the nomination process:

I was nominated (without any early knowledge or open calls) to submit artwork to be considered for inclusion in Transcendence via an extensive Nominating Committee of artists and artist leaders, including:

• Transformer Board President Jennifer Sakai,
• Independent Curator, Artist, and Professor at American University Cordula Everett,
• Cultural Officer, Austrian Cultural Forum, Austrian Embassy Washington, DC Johannes Aigner,
• Director, Austrian Cultural Forum, Austrian Embassy Washington, DC Yam Chewoah,
• Artist and Professor at MICA Emily Strulson,
• Artist Robin Davis,
• Artist Mira Hecht,
• Artist Kyle Hackett,
• Artist and Professor at American University Department of Art | Studio Art Charles Jean-Pierre,
• Artists and Professors at Howard University; and
• Transformer staff.

I was initially told that the committee would select only one piece from each artist, but I am very pleased that they chose three of my works!

My painting Gallery Chromatique was selected by Nicholas Serratore, the independent juror of the month for the October 2024 Open Art Exhibit at The Art League, Alexandria, VA.

Concept: 

Gallery Chromatique is another painting in which I utilize geometrical shapes generated from an imaginary interior as color fields. The architecture of this interior consists of a corridor with several entries—a dream-like passage easy to get lost in, distracting from composition and focusing on colors. The color fields jump from the floor to the painting on the wall and the doorways, while the main walls and ceiling remain neutral gray. I created the composition outline digitally, transferred it onto the canvas (20×24″) and painted it with acrylic, pastel and spray paint.

Floating in Limbo, Revival, and Foundation (SOLD) from my Architectural series were selected for the Hickok Cole Art Night 2024 Annual Auction, which supports the Washington Project for the Arts (WPA) and the local artists.

My participation was by invitation rather than an open call. Nevertheless, it was an extensive jury selection process, and I am thrilled that not one, not two, but THREE of my paintings were chosen for this prestigious fundraiser, and they ALL SOLD! Art Night 2024 raised $131,700 for WPA and the local arts, and I am so happy my sales contributed to the growth of our artist communities.

I introduced new works from my “Inner Gardens” collection in the September 2024 group exhibit at Van Landigham Gallery. This collection was inspired by nature reclaiming abandoned buildings and the concept of inner gardens within each of us (an inner connection with nature). Using new layering techniques with multi- and mixed-media, I created a sense of space that the viewer can imaginatively enter, connecting with our environmental awareness. I am excited about this display and would love to share it with all of you.

Unhinged (60×36″ acrylic and spray paint on canvas) was selected by Elissa Armstrong, juror for the September 2024 Wit & Whimsy at The Art League, Alexandria, VA.

Concept and Process: Unhinged is an attempt to relax the viewers, take their minds off daily obstacles, and engage them in a fun visual trick or illusion. Viewers may wonder if it’s meant to be about faces (profiles), plants, or buildings. And it is whatever they want it to be. I used florescent pink and light shades of yellow-green (acrylic) to set a soft atmosphere in the background and then energized it with dangling and upward-growing shapes (spray paint) and fixed-width thinner lines (collaged blue tape). The two futuristic orange spheres (eyes) and the lines (outlines of human or bird heads) interact to generate three whimsical profiles, with only two present simultaneously depending on which way you look at it—the wave being the mouth and nose or chin for all three.

I was selected by the ADA Gallery, Washington Center of ADA University, for the gallery’s Summer 2024 Exhibit, July through  September. Working closely with the gallery’s curator, Louette Ragusa, I assembled an intriguing collection for this exhibit from my Perspective and Architectural series. A few common elements allowed me to combine these paintings in a solo show, which addressed certain contradictions in unison—hence, the title, “Parallax Paradigms.” This exhibit’s 30+ small to large paintings joined spontaneous abstract marks with more recognizable elements, such as human figures, flora and fauna, while simulating depth using perspective grids and architectural structures. The “parallax” was defined by both the process of layering paint (literally) and the viewers’ perception of color and depth based on the individual/personal interpretation.

Throughout the three-month show, we had many great receptions on the first Fridays and third Thursdays during the Dupont Circle Art Walks. In addition, we had just under 600 visitors during the DC Art All Night event on September 28. I consider this solo show one of my best exposures as an artist, with several sales, and I am truly grateful to ADA Gallery for this opportunity.

We had a great art exhibition at the Torpedo Factory Artists Association’s Van Landingham Gallery, Studio 311, throughout August 2024.

I had six paintings on display from my Colorfield series, one of which won the second prize award from this month’s juror, Karen Schmitz. Four paintings were sold by the middle of the month, and I replaced two with new paintings from the same series.

Lotus Flood from my Perspective Series (20×20″ mixed media on canvas) was selected by Andy Yoder, juror for the August Open Exhibit at The Art League, Alexandria, VA.

Concept and Process:

This is another play on reversing the human invasion of nature. Here, a flood of organic forms in the shape of lotus leaves reclaims the manmade structure (geometrical forms). As a colorist, I combine the chromatic push and pull with the perception of depth to generate a more dynamic composition. I took photos of old walls with exciting textures of rocks, concrete and wood, collaged them digitally to create the foundation of the composition, printed the digital image on watercolor paper and then painted over with watercolor, gouache, pastel, and ink (lines) to enhance the grunge look, then mounted on the wood panel sealed with cold wax.

We had a great art exhibition at the Torpedo Factory Artists Association’s Van Landingham Gallery, Studio 311, throughout July 2024.

I had five paintings on display from my Interiors collection within my Architectural series, a few of which debuted for the first time in this exhibit, one sold.

My Inner Gardens solo art exhibit was a true success. It was reviewed in The Washington Post and had an exceptional 30% sales rate.

The McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) selected and curated the exhibit, which consisted of 15 paintings from my Perspective and Architectural series. It was exhibited at the Atrium Gallery from April 11 to June 15, 2024.

We had in-person events throughout this three-month-long art exhibit, including the opening, artist talk, and tea gathering, which many people attended. I met many new art fans and existing followers of my art who came to the exhibition.

This exhibit interacted between artificial and natural, solid and fluid, geometrical and organic, and abstract versus real. Such combinations and contradictions opened many directions for the viewer’s eye to pass or float through. Meanwhile, using all elements as color fields is a visual metaphor to awaken each viewer’s inner gardens. I explore the space between the recognizable and unfamiliar, unveiling the unknown or forgotten. Success in the work lies in viewers finding their unique stories within, forging a profound connection to self and nature. Color, prioritized over form, is paramount, shaping space and dimension and evoking deep emotions.

See my short introduction to the show on the opening night:

Two of my paintings, Uplift and Revival from the Architectural series, were selected by the juror, Amy Cavanaugh, for this highly competitive regional exhibition in Washington, DC. I received the Best-in-Show Award for Uplift. Meanwhile, Revival (with an Honorable Mention Award from The Art League – see previous events) was featured on the cover of HillRag, March 2024, the local monthly magazine for the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC.

Uplift and Revival bring a contemporary shift to classical painting and architectural style. 

Two paintings, Chroma Fields and Harvest Dawn from my Colorfield Landscape series, were selected for the Washington Project for The Arts (WPA) 2024 Collectors’ Night Gala, the annual art auction. The auction, hosted online on Artsy from April 19 to May 4, featured over 150 artworks by some of the most exciting artists in the region today. All artworks were then exhibited at the Collectors’ Night gala for guests’ exclusive viewing on May 4.

Both paintings were sold after several bids, starting before the event. I am delighted they found their home!

Liberation from my Perspective series was selected by Robert Yi, the juror of Our American Soul at Gallery Underground, Arlington, VA

This mixed media painting is inspired by American contemporary ballet and depicts the soul’s liberation.

Gallery Underground is part of the Arlington Artists Alliance and is open to the public Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM.

Bounce from my Architectural series was selected and received an honorable mention award from Juliette Colas, the juror of the March 2024 Exhibit at The Art League, Alexandria, VA.

Bounce combines ancient and modern architecture using mixed media—acrylic and spray paint layered over printed digital art on canvas.

I was selected by the Torpedo Factory Artists Association for Love is in the Air, February 2024 Exhibit at Van Landingham Gallery, Studio 311, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, VA.

This display consisted of some of my mixed media collage works.

I participated in January Blues, the first art show of 2024 at Van Landingham Gallery, Studio 311, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, VA.

Falling Vase from my Perspective series was selected by Jorge Alberto, the juror of the Still Life Exhibit at The Art League, Alexandria, VA.

Falling Vase depicts the constant universal struggle between order and disorder—realism and abstraction. I am representing the chaos with the abstraction of floral forms against the order symbolized by the perspective grid. The vase is the most representational (the least abstract) form in this painting. The falling of the vase is a passage from order to disorder (release of energy). I created the perspective grid and the background digitally. I traced them on 300 lb cold-pressed watercolor paper, painted with layers of watercolor, gouache, acrylic paint and markers, and sealed with cold wax after mounting on the wood board. I’ve used both spontaneous action painting and more controlled detail work here.

Revival from my Architectural Series (20×20″ mixed media on canvas) was selected and awarded with an Honorable Mention by David Culpepper, juror for the December Open Exhibit at The Art League, Alexandria, VA.

Revival brings a contemporary shift to classical painting and architectural style. My Architectural series is inspired by early perspective paintings of the Renaissance period with a contemporary twist of segmented color fields.

I was selected by the Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association as a participating non-member artist at Van Landingham Gallery, Studio 311, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, VA.

Orbs on Rocks from my Architectural Series (20×24″ mixed media on canvas) was selected and received the BEST-in-SHOW Award by Chelsey Luster, juror for the November Open Exhibit at The Art League, Alexandria, VA.

Stonehenge and other ancient and modern architecture inspired this multimedia painting from my architectural series. I took photos of old walls with interesting textures of rocks, concrete and wood, collaged them digitally to create the foundation of the composition, printed the digital image on canvas and then painted over with acrylic, pastel and spray paint. My goal was to combine modern and antique textures while creating color and textured fields, pushing the boundaries of abstract painting toward a more familiar sense of depth and space.

Portal Mystique from my Architectural Series (40×30″ mixed media on canvas) was selected by Mike Jabbur, juror for the October Open Exhibit at The Art League, Alexandria, VA.

In this colorist approach, I used a composition with characteristics of my Perspective series. Here, the depth and representational elements are combined with spontaneous abstract expressions to generate a surrealistic scene—a mysterious journey to a city built on water inspired by Venice. The narrative is about a wish coming true, but I leave it open to the viewers’ interpretations.

Quantum Gravity (24×24″ mixed media on wood panel) from my  Perspective Series was selected by Regina DeLuise, juror of the month.

My interest in contemporary theoretical science inspired this painting. Our understanding of gravity has undergone several facelifts in the past hundred years and is still evolving. Here, I’ve double-collaged (first digitally and then physically) two digital simulations of 3D sculptures, one I created and the other a stock image I altered. The merging of digital and physical paintings reminds me of how scientists try to superimpose macro and quantum physics. I truly grasp their struggle when I deal with simulating perspective while keeping the theme abstract.

My painting Actaeon (48×36″ mixed media on wood panel) from my Perspective Series was selected by Ahrong Kim, juror for the August emBODY Exhibit at The Art League, Alexandria, VA.

Inspired by Greek mythology—Actaeon the hunter became the hunted, watching the goddess of hunters, Artemis (Roman Diana), bathing—he was transformed into a stag by the goddess. This story is the iconic motif by which Actaeon is recognized in ancient art and Renaissance and post-Renaissance depictions. I portrayed him as a contemporary superhero while preserving the antique and Renaissance appeal as part of my Perspective series. The sun also plays a vital role in balancing the composition and further establishing the ancient pagan mood (sun worship).

My painting Escape from my Architectural Series was selected by Susan O’Neill for the National Juried Art Show Out of the Blue presented by Gallery Underground, Arlington, VA.

Escape is one of the three paintings I’ve done with abstracted architectural forms where blues dominate the foreground and warmer colors are pushed to the background. This reverses the academic notion of warm colors in front and cold colors in the horizon and creates an unexpected composition that works well as a color field painting.

Presented by:

Jen Tough Gallery

I was honored to be selected by the Torpedo Factory Artist Association as a participating non-member artist at Van Landingham Gallery, Studio 311, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, VA.

I exhibited on the monthly shows with 7-10 small and large paintings each month, January – August 2023. I won three Best-in-Show awards and was one of the top-selling artists during this time.

My August display shown in the above photo comprised seven paintings from my Architectural Series and miniature Garden Pond paintings from my Nature Series.

My partner Dicxon Vergaray and I were among the first artist residents of the brand-new AIR Studios by Jen Tough Gallery in May 2023. Our open studio coincided with the grand opening of the gallery. This was a memorable experience working with other artists visiting from all around the US and meeting with local and traveling art lovers. Santa Fe, NM has a magical nature and atmosphere for creativity.

Watch the tour of the gallery and our studio.

Presented by:

Jen Tough Gallery

My painting Women’s Initiative was selected for Anonymously from Iran Exhibit 2023

and featured in the Queens, New York City, local news.

Presented by:

Jen Tough Gallery

ADA Art Gallery

Presented by:

Jen Tough Gallery

Honorable Mention Winner

An addition to my Colorfield series, “Enigma” 60×36″ was selected and awarded with Honorable Mention by Amber Cowan, the juror of the Art League’s August 2022 Open Exhibit. In this mixed media painting, the composition is intentionally unresolved and it triggers the eye to fill the gaps, with so many options—hence, the name, “Enigma.”

View Full-Size Image | See Colorfield Series

“Skyland”, mixed media on diptych 2x(60×20)” canvas, was selected by Jessie Boyland, the juror of the Art League’s July 2022 Open Exhibit. Skyland is a dream about true harmony between manmade and nature. This diptych explores the shapes and colors of landscape and sky from different angles and perspectives.

View Full-Size Image | See Nature Series

Honorable Mention Winner

“Rainessance”, 48×36″ mixed media on wood was selected and awarded with Honorable Mention by Eliot Dudik, the juror of the Art League’s May 2022 Open Exhibit. Here I incorporated and followed the natural wood grains—nature’s pattern. The result is a contemporary Renaissance-style perspective—perhaps a gate into the world of the unknown.

View Full-Size Image | See Perspective Series

“Life After People”, 40×30″ mixed media on canvas was selected by Xander Berekely, the juror of the Art League’s April 2022 Screen Dream Exhibit (somehow related to or titled after a movie or TV series). This painting is very much inspired by a television series with the same title in which scientists speculate about what might become of Earth if humanity suddenly disappeared—the impact of human absence on the environment and the vestiges of civilization thus left behind. Nature takes over what is left of our constructions. In the intuitive process of creating this painting, I’ve tried to mimic the unpredictable growth of vegetation around and within derelict buildings.

View Full-Size Image | See Baroque Series

“Archland”, 24×48″ mixed media on canvas was selected by Gage Branda, the juror of the Art League’s March 2022 Open Exhibit. Starting with intuitive painting (acrylic) on canvas, I then digitally created the smaller 3D arches. I printed the digital art on paper and transferred it to the canvas with acrylic medium (no college here). The larger arch in the middle is a pencil drawing on top of the painting mimicking the digital art. I do not wish to add any particular interpretation of my own as a story behind this piece. I am hoping that the rather unfinished look will feed the viewer’s imagination.

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“One Missed the Kiss”, 30×40″ mixed media on canvas was selected by Summer Brown, the juror of the Art League’s October 2021 Open Exhibit. Inspired by the fairy tales when the frog is turned into a charming prince by a kiss, here one frog has missed the kiss while the other lucky frog has already marched on as a prince on a white horse. I leave the deeper psychological interpretations of human feelings such as jealousy, joy, sadness, acceptance and rejection to the viewer. Here we see a modernized classical figure of the prince with an exaggerated and “half-finished” arm inspired by the royal commissioned paintings of Louis IV of France by various 17-century artists and later neoclassicist paintings of David. I created the frog using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop then printed and collaged it on the canvas. 

View Full-Size Image | See Abstracted Figures Series

“Broken Idols”, 40×30″ mixed media on canvas was selected by Caitlin Berry, the juror of the Art League’s September 2021 “Heroes and Villains” Exhibit. As part of my Fractured series, in this fluid metamorphic composition, I depict the public “heroes” who turn into “villains” as all historical and contemporary dictators and cult leaders do. I have used different viscosity of paint together with collaged pieces of fabric I’ve printed separately to achieve this dynamic movement. This piece has crimson red edges symbolizing the bloody revolutions which often topple such idols.

View Full-Size Image | See Fractured Series

The perspective series is inspired by the rediscovery of the perspective grid among Renaissance artists. While the invention of Cartesian coordinates in mathematics helped move medieval art towards realism, in this series, adding aspects of perspective to abstract gestures results in a somewhat surreal look—vision through a prism or a kaleidoscope of broken glass. I use trapezoids and triangles generated by 3D grids as abstract planes to showcase colors. I further enhance some of my compositions with realistic figures and illustrations as positive distractions. They improve the composition by breaking the symmetry and changing the gaze or focal point. The human, animal, and insect illustrations are additional elements to display color.

The main player in all my paintings is color. There is no narrative in the beginning. The figures are born from spontaneous and subconscious gestures and marks suggesting recognizable and familiar objects. I replace some of them with much more realistic illustrations. I treat each painting as an independent being – in this process, it is the painting itself that dictates what it wants to become. And finally, it is always the viewer who interprets the narrative better than I do,” Bahadori remarked, describing his work.

See the artist talk video for this show.

Click here > to see some of the paintings from the Perspective Series.

“Opus III”, 24×24″ mixed media on canvas was selected by Mark Bischel, the juror of the Art League’s December 2020 Open Exhibit. As part of my Music series, in this and the two other paintings, Opus I & II, I’ve taken a colorist approach using a geometrical composition with an ornamental motif to create a musical feeling.

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Honorable Mention Winner

“Bosons”, 20×50″ acrylic on canvas was selected and awarded with Honorable Mention by Raymond Padron, the juror of the Art League’s October 2020 Open Exhibit. My particular interest in scientific theories such as spacetime and Higgs fields has been the source of inspiration for this painting. It is the overlapping strings (white and light green) that are holding the fabric of the composition, like the bosons of the universe. In this piece, I have used raw cotton canvas staining techniques (prior to painting) to achieve richer colors.

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“Fuchsine Fusion”, 48×36″ acrylic on canvas was selected by Allison Nance, the juror of the Art League’s May 2020 Open Exhibit. The fluidity of shapes and colors mimicking the laws of nature. Fuchsine or fuchsin (pronounced like fusion) is a chemical that is green when dry and
turns into the most beautiful magenta when dissolved in water. Hence inspiring the title “Fuchsine Fusion.”

View Full-Size Image | See Music Series

Two paintings of mine were selected for the Washington Project for the Arts 2020 High Frequency Annual Auction—”Equinox” and “Fallings” both 48×36″. See page 98-99 of the Catalogue >

“Equinox” was sold in this auction.

“Pollinia”, 16×40″ acrylic on canvas was selected by Carol Fabricatore the juror of the Art League’s 2020 Flora / Fauna show (March 2020). Pollinia (masses of pollen grains) is a painting from my Music series in which I’ve explored several states of the nature in a single painting. Here the states are more about the seasons and surely more than four seasons—seven to be precise with abstracted flowers, leafs insects and birds. I consider myself a colorist and the theme inspired by flora and fauna is really an excuse to expand on the color palette.

View Full-Size Image | See Music Series

“Revelation”, 48×36″ acrylic on canvas was selected by Catherine Haggarty the juror of the Art League’s January 2020 show. This is an intuitive abstract painting using wet-on-wet and pouring techniques with perspective and depth added by the juxtaposition of the solid forms which create a push and pull of the colors and organic to geometric transformations. The title “Revelation” is about the birth or burst of the industrial and mechanical forms out of the organic core (heart). There is a lot here that is left to the viewer’s discovery and interpretation.

View Full-Size Image | See Perspective Series

“Pulling Perspective”—acrylic and spray paint on canvas 48×36” won The Best in Show Award of The Art League (Alexandria, VA) selected and recognized as the best in show by Matthew T. McLaughlin the juror of the December 2019 show. > READ INTERVIEW >

This was my third Best in Show Award by The Art League within four years. This painting is a two dimensional sculpture using a perspective grid that is distorted, folded while preserving the 3D look. The minimalistic approach to use of colors (black and white only) is to keep the focus on the forms. Unlike many paintings that depict a realistic perspective, this painting is created within the realm of two dimensions by molding a square based grid into organic forms on the flat surface of the canvas.

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“Trickster”, 48×12″ acrylic on canvas was selected by Antonio McAfee the juror of the Art League “Origins” show, November 2019. This is inspired by the folklore and mythology of Azerbaijan my place of birth. A child character by the name of “Jirtdan”, who is a clever trickster (hero) in many folktales, fools and tricks various monsters and giants. I’ve abstracted the narrative beyond recognition while keeping the ethnic forms and shapes alive.

View Full-Size Image | See Abstracted Figures Series

“After the Rain”, 36×36″ acrylic and pastel on canvas was selected for the Art League Art on Tap November 2019 Mini Exhibit. Inspired by tropical nature—abstracting and fragmenting plant forms and forest lights and shadows, this painting is result of intuitive action painting and sketches with brush (acrylic paint) and pastel. I’ve preserved the freshness and dynamic spontaneity of the work by avoiding touch-ups and tweaks. Hence, the name “after the rain”.

View Full-Size Image | See Fractured Series

“Levitations”, 24×36″ mixed media on canvas was selected by Julia Kwon the juror of the Art League August 2019 show. In this painting I’ve introduced a perspective grid and an arch to compliment the organic marks and to add a sur-real depth to the abstract—here my focus has been on “push and pull” inspired by Hans Hoffman. I am hoping that by adding the texture and grunge as well as the third dimension, I’ve managed to push the “push and pull” effect beyond what is created by the colors. I am still relying on my intentional imperfections to trigger the viewers imagination.

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“Equinox”, 48×36″ mixed media on canvas was selected by Fanna Gebreyesus the juror of the Art League July 2019 show. Intuitive painting has always been a spiritual journey for me—discovery of the unknown or subconscious. Inspired by Hilma af Klint’s spiritual early abstract paintings and the perspective revolution of the Renaissance period. My goal has been revival of a distant antiquity—ancient sun worships at a time that we are so out of alignment with the nature and environment.

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In collaboration with Claudia Cappelle

868 Estate Vineyards

14001 Harpers Ferry Rd, Hillsboro, VA 20132

“Dystopia”, 36×36″ mixed media on canvas was selected by Erika Harrsch the juror of the Art League May 2019 show (see location below). It is result of abstracting human figure—male model with short poses—drawing by pouring paint with disengaged mind from a place of feeling and not thinking. I select a title for each painting after I complete the process depending on the mood it evokes (not necessarily the mood I paint in). This painting evoke a strange fear of uncertainty in me and others who looked at it—not too unfamiliar to us all these days. But also a big sense of hope.

View Full-Size Image | More Abstracted Figures

Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, VA, USA  | 703.683.2323 |  Google Maps

“Fractured”, 48×36″ was selected by Lavar Munroe the juror of the Art League April 2019 show (devoted to mixed media). Inspired by the 1950’s works of Alberto Burri, Yves Klein, Lee Bontecou and their contemporaries, in this work physicality and unpredictability have introduced a new compelling energy as the painting has entered the world of objects—result of cutting and leaving openings on the canvas while revealing another surface behind.

View Full-Size Image | View Fractured Series

Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, VA, USA  | 703.683.2323 |  Google Maps

“Neighborhood”, 48×36″ mixed media on canvas, was selected by Costa Vavagiakis the juror of the March 2019 show at the Art League. It is a painting inspired by the musical concept of melody (organic forms) and rhythm (geometrical forms) running together and against one another. As for the title “Neighborhood”, the “melody” and “rhythm” create the harmony/community in a visual form with abstracted perspective.

View Full-Size Image | View Perspective Series

Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, VA, USA  | 703.683.2323 |  Google Maps

“Ascending” was selected by Mark Strandquist juror of the January 2019 show at the Art League. This painting on canvas (20×60 inches) was a result of an intuitive process which I initially introduced depth through architectural perspectives and then added the fragmented female figure
to fully express the rather spiritual air that the painting was suggesting as part of my Narrative Series.

 View Full-Size Image | View Narrative Series

Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, VA, USA  | 703.683.2323 |  Google Maps

“Legend”, acrylic on canvas 60×20″, was selected by Margaret McCann juror of the December 2018 show at the Art League. The geometrical and organic shapes and color combinations are set to compete here. There is also a dynamic competition between silver and white drawings in and out of the reflecting light. Every viewer may see her/his own story/dream in various segments. Reading the piece vertically builds up the”legend”.

View Full-Size Image | View Fractured Series

Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, VA, USA  | 703.683.2323 |  Google Maps

“Fumaroles” was selected by Lee Newman juror of the November 2018 show at the Art League. This painting on canvas (36×36 inches) was a result of a spontaneous process of dying paper and intuitive painting simultaneously and combining them through collage. It is inspired by geological formations, flames, and volcanoes with high contrast in both colors and forms—organic versus geometric.

View Full-Size Image | View Fractured Series

Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, VA, USA  | 703.683.2323 |  Google Maps

“Closure” was juried in by M. Stephen Doherty for the Art League’s “Self Portrait” show and was on display for the month of October 2018. From my narrative series, this mixed media painting of 20×60 inches on canvas depicts the “closure” with the past traumas while the fear of future remains. This painting was not preplanned and was the result of an intuitive process. I pushed it in the direction of surrealistic illustration.

View Full-Size Image | View Narrative Series

The “Doodlehood” is an imitation of music with melody and harmony and rhythm overlapping and coexisting. In fact I was intentionally listening to music (Azerbaijani jazz by Vaqif Mustafazade). The title comes from the doodlings I did with the song and the resulting look of a neighbourhood or map.

The Art League gallery July 2018 exhibit:

105 N Union St, Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Reflections Exhibit

The Art League gallery
Juror: Carlton Fletcher
Exhibit dates: June 5–27, 2018
Read my interview

Among selected 200 from 1400 applicants—”Broken” 48×36″ painting by Abol Bahadori was sold with 7 bids

 Click for the event link. 

Participating artist at Art Squared exhibit

Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA, USA

Gallery Hours: Friday & Saturday 12–9 PM, Thursday & Sunday 12–6 PM
Phone: 703.838.4827

Participating artist at Sensorium exhibit

Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA, USA

Gallery Hours: Friday & Saturday 12–9 PM, Thursday & Sunday 12–6 PM
Phone: 703.838.4827

Participating artist at the open theme art exhibit sponsored by the Del Ray Artisans and the City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts

Durant Arts Center, 1605 Cameron St, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA

Open: Weekdays 9AM-5PM and on performance evenings
For more information contact Eileen O’Brien: GWW@DelRayArtisans.org