Behnam Kamrani (born 1968 in Shiraz, Iran) is an Iranian painter, sculptor, visual artist, curator, writer, and art critic. He is considered one of the prominent contemporary artists active in Iran's academic and professional art scenes.
Early life and education Kamrani was born in 1968 in Shiraz. His father, Ali Mohammad Kamrani, held a master's degree in law and was active in education and sports. His mother, Sorayya Pahlevanpur, also worked in education and was Kamrani's first guide and motivator in art. After completing his primary and secondary education in Shiraz, he began medical studies at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences but eventually left to pursue painting, his true passion.
He earned his B.A. in Painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran in 1995. He later obtained an M.A. in Painting from Tehran University of Art in 1999 and completed a PhD in Art Research in 2008. His doctoral dissertation focused on miniature illustrations in traditional Persian medical manuscripts.
Career Behnam Kamrani is a faculty member at the University of Art in Tehran and a permanent member of the Iranian Society of Painters. He also serves on the editorial board of the quarterly journal Art Tomorrow.
He has held over 14 solo exhibitions and participated in more than 300 group exhibitions in Iran, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Japan, China, Armenia, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, the United States, Switzerland, and Greece.
As a curator, Kamrani has organized exhibitions in galleries such as Shirin, Mohsen, Aun, Iranshahr, Vista, Vesal Shirazi, as well as the Niavaran Cultural Center and international platforms like the Shanghai Biennale.
Selected solo exhibitions 2015 – Always (with Banafshe Hemmati), 26 Gallery, Tehran 2014 – Where It Doesn't Matter Where!, Aun Gallery, Tehran 2013 – 2013 Caspian Biennal /Baku/Azerbaijan 2013 – Fire in…, Aun Gallery, Tehran 2013 – Video Persi Art /Nature Art biennale /Gongiu ,Chungnam/ Korea 2013 – Peace/Opera gallery/London 2013 – Ayyam Gallery/The Young collector auction/Dubai 2013 – Opera Gallery/ Dubai 2012 – 9th Shanghai Biennale /china 2012 – Alison Williams/New York-USA 2011 – Padiglione esterno /Iran and India video art/Rome-Italy 2011 – Unified in Diversity/Total Arts gallery/Dubai-UAE 2012 – Edge, Aun Gallery, Tehran 2010 – Iran Traveling on Banknotes, Aun Gallery, Tehran 2007 – New media festival/Chicago,USA 2006 – Clothes for Us, Clothes for Gabriel, Khak Gallery, Tehran 2004 – Miniature of Paradise, Laleh Gallery, Tehran 2000 – Mystical Clothes, Barg Gallery, Tehran
Group exhibitions Kamrani has participated in major international events such as the 9th Shanghai Biennale (2012), the Caspian Biennale in Baku (2013), the Nature Biennale in South Korea, and group exhibitions in Yerevan, London, and Vienna.
Publications and writing Kamrani authored the book Painting Workshop, contributed to Iranian school textbooks, and has published numerous articles in journals such as Art Tomorrow, Art Quarterly, Tandis, Bukhara, and Tavoos.
Awards 1999 – Winner, First International Drawing Exhibition, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art 2005 – Honorary Diploma, Paris Triennial 2010 – Selected Work, Palestine Museum Exhibition
Memberships and juries Kamrani has served on numerous committees and selection panels, including: Jury of Urban Sculpture (2009) Damoonfar Biennale (2009) National Student Arts Festival (2008) Vista Contemporary Art Prize (2018) Contemporary Art Museum of Tehran (2001–2006) Spiritual Art – Niavaran Cultural Center (2004) Comparative Art Research Group – House of Artists (since 2011) Council of International Exhibitions – Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (2004–2006)
References
External links Persian article on Farsi Wikipedia Iranshahr Art Gallery profile Artibition – Behnam Kamrani HonarOnline – Kamrani video retrospectives Tiwall academic page Iran Art articles about Kamrani