Reza Derakshani

Sophia Contemporary is proud to present ‘Hunting the Light’, the gallery’s second presentation of paintings by the Iranian-American artist Reza Derakshani. Following Sophia’s successful inaugural exhibition of his work in 2016, ‘Hunting the Light’ features twelve new paintings demonstrating Derakshani’s continued quest for a visual language that bridges Iranian artistic traditions with Western contemporary and abstract inclinations. On view from January 26 through March 10, 2018, the exhibition includes new works from three of Derakshani’s ongoing series: ‘Hunting,’ ‘Garden Party,’ and ‘Shirin and Khosrow.’ The new paintings in the series continue in the trademark vivid and expressive style of Derakshani’s earlier works, and are executed in oil on canvas.

Over the past decade, Middle Eastern art has gained increasing recognition on the international stage and has begun to capture the attention of Asian collectors. Sotheby’s first exhibition of Middle Eastern art in Asia will present works by two iconic artists: Reza Derakshani (b. 1952), one of Iran’s most celebrated living painters, and Lebanese-born modern sculptor Alfred Basbous (1924 – 2006). The show will provide Asian collectors a unique opportunity to discover the work of these outstanding artists, whilst introducing Middle Eastern art to an even wider global audience. The selling exhibition is guest-curated by international art advisors Arianne Levene Piper and Eglantine de Ganay-d’Espous, in association with Sophia Contemporary Gallery and the Alfred Basbous Foundation, and will offer for sale twelve bronze and marble sculptures by Alfred Basbous and fifteen new oil-on-canvas works by Reza Derakshani.

Reza Derakshani - Retrospective at the Russian Museum, St Petersburg, Russia

Opening on 9 March 2016 in London’s Mayfair, Sophia Contemporary is a new gallery showcasing contemporary art of the Middle East and Iran alongside contemporary Western art. Founded by Vassili Tsarenkov, Lali Marganiya and Lili Jassemi, the gallery’s inaugural exhibition showcases several major series of ongoing and new paintings by the artist Reza Derakshani, one of the most celebrated living Iranian artists.