Iranian artists shine at Qatar’s auction

The inaugural international auction of modern and contemporary Iranian art, titled “Naqsh-e Jahan,” took place at the Albahie Auction House in the cultural district of Katara, showcasing the works of two pioneers in the field of calligraphic painting in Iran, Sadegh Tabrizi and Mohammad Ehsai.

On February 25, the Albahie Auction House hosted a remarkable event where 36 artworks by Iranian artists were put up for bidding. Among the highlights were pieces by Tabrizi and Ehsai, which garnered the highest initial estimates, selling for $30,000 and $32,000, respectively, ILNA reported.
Tabrizi’s piece, an untitled calligraphic painting created using a mixed-media technique on canvas measuring 190 by 160 centimeters, featured the artist’s signature in the lower right corner. This work, dating back to the 1960s, was presented with the highest initial estimate of the auction, ranging from $40,000 to $60,000, ultimately selling for $30,000.
Ehsai’s contribution, an oil painting on canvas from the series ‘Nods’ measuring 105 by 160 centimeters and dated 2022, was also signed and dated by the artist in the lower right corner. This piece had an initial price estimate of $35,000 to $55,000, and it sold for $32,000.
Mehrdad Fallah, a painter and representative of Tabrizi’s family, emphasized the auction’s strength in presenting traditional Iranian-Islamic calligraphy in a modern and non-classical format.
He noted the significance of regional events like this, stating, “Currently, major auction houses such as Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Bonhams do not have a significant presence in the Middle East, making the establishment of regional and local auctions like Albahie in Qatar, as well as Tehran’s auction house, a very important development. The organization of such regional auctions could potentially enhance competition among buyers and collectors for notable artworks.”
He further elaborated on the importance of Tabrizi’s painting at this auction, remarking, “This painting is a prime example of Tabrizi’s work, with its composition holding significant value. The diagonal lines in the background evoke a sense of dynamism and movement, while the arrangement of the calligraphy on either side creates a form of invisible symmetry that maintains visual balance. The bold red background conveys excitement and power, while the golden letters in contrast create a spiritual effect. The use of Thuluth or Diwani script, with its intertwined structure, adds layers of complexity both in meaning and visually, while the extension and merging of certain letters produce a fluid flow within the image.”
Despite the crippling sanctions of recent years, Fallah underscored the importance of Iranian art’s presence in the global art market, stating, “I have always said that supporting the art economy requires innovative thinking. We must utilize the potential of Iranian art in global markets more effectively, especially considering the decline in the value of the rial domestically. Therefore, we need to strengthen the selling opportunities for our artists’ works in foreign auctions to continue witnessing this relative boom.”

According to the report, a calligraphic painting by Ahmad Mirza, executed in oil and gold leaf on canvas measuring 130 by 130 centimeters and dated 2019, had an estimated price of $3,000 to $5,000, ultimately selling for $1,800. A painting measuring 200 by 200 centimeters by Ozra Aghighi-Bakhshayeshi, estimated at $12,000 to $16,000, sold for $11,000.
Other notable sales included an acrylic painting by Farnaz Rezaei, estimated at $1,000 to $2,000, which sold for $800, and a piece by Shahla Moazazi, estimated at $3,000 to $5,000, which fetched $2,000.
Mohammad Saeed Naghashian also participated in the auction with a 150 by 150 centimeter piece from 2024, estimated at $3,000 to $5,000, which sold for $10,000. Additionally, a Tabrizi oil painting on canvas, estimated at $3,000 to $5,000, sold for $2,000, while a work by Ali Shirazi, measuring 180 by 145 centimeters and created using a mixed-media technique in 2011, was sold for $5,000, having been estimated at $8,000 to $12,000.
The auction also featured a calligraphic piece by Mehrdad Shoghi, measuring 100 by 150 centimeters, which sold for $10,000, and an oil painting by Soodeh Davood, estimated at $4,000 to $6,000, which fetched $3,600. Kiarash Yaqoubi presented an untitled acrylic work on canvas measuring 100 by 100 centimeters, with an initial estimate of $4,000 to $6,000, which sold for $2,600.
Behruz Zindashti’s work titled ‘Sacred Numbers,’ executed in acrylic on canvas measuring 220 by 170 centimeters, had an estimated price of $2,000 to $4,000 and sold for $2,400. Afghan artist Ali Rahimi offered an oil painting on canvas measuring 120 by 130 centimeters, estimated at $1,500 to $2,500, which sold for $1,200. Additionally, a black and white calligraphy piece by Hossein Bahrami, estimated at $800 to $1,200, sold for $500.