Reza Derakshani

Painter, musician and performance artist Reza Derakshani was born in Sangsar, a small village in the north east of Iran. Being brought up in a nomad family on the mountains had an enormous impact on his admiration for natural beauty and wonders of creation which is still very present in his work.

Derakshani experienced his college years primarily as a battlefield on which to develop technical skills and enhance his wide-ranging intellectual curiosity. In order to enrich his art he believed in pursuing a thorough grounding in many diverse art forms such as: graphic design, book illustration, film animation and calligraphy, as well as studies in traditional and western classical schools of art. Yet it is within contemporary painting that Derakshani has experienced true liberation and fulfillment as an artist. The challenging techniques and mental stimulation inherent in contemporary art have led him to create a meditative solitude that results in pure freedom of self-expression. His work, known for being diverse and highly original, has achieved recognition mainly for its fearless exploration of form and style.

Derakshani values what comes from the heart. Placing no limits on creativity, he is aware that Iranian traditions and the long and complex history of the region are a vital part of his vision and are what ultimately determines his identity while being considered an international artist.

Reza Derakshani’s first solo show at the age of nineteen was held at the prominent Ghandriz Art Gallery in Tehran, Following this auspicious debut, he participated in many group and solo exhibits at other leading art galleries prior to his graduation in 1976 from the Art School at Teheran University.

Reza Derakshani’s work has been exhibited and collected internationally. That includes succesful sales at the art auctions as well as highly distinguished Iranian and international contemporary art collectors.

Derakshani has been featured in numerous radio and television shows and publications. His musical career includes a variety of collaborations with renowned international musicians, poets and dancers such as: John Densmore of the Doors, Bill.T.Jones, Branford Marsalis,  Deepack Chopra, Madonna, David Darling, Clara Ponti, Richard Horowitz, Dawn Avery, Gabriel Ross, Jamshid Shemirani, Mario Crispi, Kursh Kale, and Saam Schlaminger, to name but a few.

Reza Derakshani currently lives and works between Tehran, USA and Europe.