Parvīz Tanāvulī

Parviz Tanavoli (born 1937, Tehran) is a renowned Iranian sculptor, painter, writer, and art historian, widely regarded as the founder of modern sculpture in Iran. He studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Tehran and later at the Academy of Fine Arts in Milan. Tanavoli was a leading figure in the Saqqakhaneh art movement, blending Iranian traditions, calligraphy, mythology, and modern concepts. His most iconic series, Heech (“Nothing”), reflects philosophical introspection and aesthetic innovation in contemporary Iranian art. Notable works include Lovers, Poet and Cage, Heech and Hand, and Mafrash. He has conducted extensive research on Persian carpets, folk art, and Iranian art history, publishing books such as Mafrash and Tribal Rugs of Iran. Tanavoli has taught in Iran, the U.S., and Canada, and his works have been exhibited in major museums worldwide.