Etminani, Bobak  
www.bobaketminani.com

… top-notch abstract paintings... (like) infinity in a grain of sand...Etminani is moving in the direction of the new abstraction that I have seen in Europe and North America in the past few years…a reinvented abstraction…resistant to the narrative ease of this image world and is resolute in creating a pictorial space within painting where images remain malleable and formative, open to the human engagement that shapes meaning as a negotiation of fact and sensibility rather than as a transaction of recognitions and ready-made content…His paintings embrace physics and metaphysics in ways that seem acutely contemporary...He presents the real at a distance, and also the real that is hidden inside. With the format of his paintings, he also presents a real that faces us squarely.

Jamal, Mo

Mo Jamal is a multi-faceted artist who has worked in a variety media including visual arts and music. He graduated with a Master's of Fine Arts degree from Tehran University and pursued his doctoral studies in the Arts at the University of Sorbonne, France.
  In 1991, Mo founded Art Direct Gallery in Cologne in Germany and received the Kunstpreis International and Annual juried Art Exhibit Award in Wesseling in Germany.  He works with variety of media such as oil, acrylic, water color, and pastel from traditional to contemporary styles. His cartoons have been published in a variety of newspapers such as Le Monde and L' Humanite.  
Mo has held membership of many professional artist associations such as BBK (artist association of Cologne), OSA, and AVAA (Austin Visual Artist Association) and has had over 40 group and solo shows around the world.Since 2003 Mo has been residing in Canada.

Jamal, Shahla E.

Shahla studied art at the University of Tehran, and her academic endeavors would later take her as far as London, England and Paris, France.  While Shahla was pursuing doctoral studies and attending art history classes at the University of Sorbonne in Paris, the Iranian Revolution occurred. Her studies in Europe became abrupt with a return to her motherland.  From 1986 to 1994, Shahla had successfully exhibited her work in Germany, and also co-founded Art Direct Gallery in Cologne.
In 1994, Shahla moved yet again, this time to the U.S. where she continued her artistic accomplishments: she co-founded Rumi Art Society in Austin; collaborated as a vocalist with the Rumi Ensemble; received a four year grant from the "City Cultural Contracts" in Austin; was a member of the Austin Visual Artists Association, and Austin Pastel Association from 1996-2003. Shahla finally moved to Canada in 2003, where she resides today.  She has held several interviews, and been featured by TV and radio stations and newspapers in Iran, Europe, USA and Canada. Shahla Etemadzadeh has been an elected member of the Ontario Society of Artists since 2006.She has since exhibited in more than forty solo and group exhibitions, and her paintings are in private collections in Europe, Iran, Russia, U.S.A. and Canada. 

Javadipour, Mahmoud

Professor Mahmoud Javadipour was born in Tehran in 1920. He completed his Doctorate Degree in 1965. His extensive work history includes working as the Head of the Figurative Arts Department, Assistant Director, Teacher, and Student Supervisor in various post secondary institutions such as Tehran University , and Kamal Al Molk school of Fine Arts, and College of Decorative Arts .

Professor Janadipour represented the Ministry of Arts and Culture in the Ministry of Art and Culture in the high council of postal stamps, was a representative of the faculty of fine arts at Iranian standard and industrial research institute, as well as ministry of Culture and Arts in Tehran University in the Ministry of Justice Technical Department. He was one of the first artists to establish an art gallery in Tehran - Iran , known as the Apadana Gallery House of Fine Arts. He has held many individual exhibitions in Iran, Germany, and U.S.A. from 1949 - 1991.

Javanrouh, Sam

Sam Javanrouh is one of the most celebrated photobloggers worldwide. The son of a renowned Iranian Cinematographer, Sam left Tehran for Canada in 1999 to further his career. He started his photoblog "Daily Dose of Imagery" in 2003 posting a new photo everyday of his new home and his daily life. The site quickly gained media attention and has become one of the world's most popular photoblogs to visit. "Daily Dose of Imagery" has won multiple international awards since its launch including Photobloggies' "Photoblog of the year" and Bloggies' "Best Photography of a weblog". As a result, Sam's work has been featured in many local and international media including BBC, CBC Arts, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, National Post and Spacing Magazine among others. He  currently works in Film and TV industry as Creative Director for Optix Digital Pictures, a Toronto-based visual effects and animation company.

Judy, Mohsen

Born in 1969 Mohsen Judy is a Graphic and Creative Designer, Photographer, Painter, Master of Persian Calligraphy, Commercial artist, and Advertising Specialist. He graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran. His career in Graphic design had begun in early 1990s when he first joined The Sabz Publishing Company in Tehran as a freelance designer. Consequently he established the Forough Graphic group in Tehran.
In 1996 he was awarded the design of the shoulder marks for  Iran’s Navy and Air force Military uniform (Shoulder Mark  or Epaulettes are a type of ornamental shoulder piece or  decoration used as rank by the military). There after, in 2003 he moved to Great Britain in pursuit of Photography, his new found passion, which he graduated from in 2004. He has participated in many national and international exhibitions; his works have been presented in collections and galleries in Tehran, Toronto and London. Currently leaving in Toronto where he is working as a freelance Graphic Designer, Photographer, and Advertising Agent. He is also active member of GDC (Society of Graphic Designer of Canada).

Kiarostami, Abbas

“I believe the films of Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami are extraordinary. Words cannot relate my feelings. I suggest you see his films; and then you will see what I mean”
                                                                                                 Akira Kurosawa

Abbas Kiarostami, one of the most influential and controversial Iranian filmmakers, is a graduate of Faculty of Fine Arts in Painting from Tehran University. He first started with painting, graphics and book illustrations and then began his film career by making credit-titles and commercials. Winner of over seventy national and international awards, Kiarostami contributed largely to the Iranian “New Wave” of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
A pioneer in Iranian cinema, Kiarostami has written or directed more than twenty films. His films Where is the Friend’s House, Close-Up and Under the Olive Trees placed him on international scene. He was the first Iranian director to win the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for Taste of Cherry. He is also largely credited for his contributions
Concurrent with his international acclaim as a filmmaker, Kiarostami has seriously pursued his passion for photography and has sustained a remarkable practice of still photography for over twenty-five years. He has had numerous exhibitions in the world including those at MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art) in New York and Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Momayez, Mortza
www.momayez.ir

A Tribute to “The Father of Iranian Graphic Design”, Morteza Momayez (August 26, 1936 - November 25, 2005)

Morteza Momayez was one of the most prominent artistic and cultural figures of our time. Concerning inclusiveness, effectiveness, management and commitment; he was a perfect artist and also a unique teacher. 
Momayez graduated in painting from The Faculty of Fine Arts of University of Tehran, introduced and teaching graphic design in the same faculty since 1969. He was one of the founders and president of Iranian Graphic Design Society (IGDS) till 2004, a member of Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) since 1975, president of Tehran International Poster Biennial 2004, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Neshan magazine.
He dedicated his fruitful life to promote graphic design in Iran and building reliable relation between graphic design in Iran and the modern world, therefore it would be right to name him ‘The Father of Iranian Graphic Design’.
Momayez was honored the ICOGRADA Life Time Achievements Award in 2004, medal of Academy of Art in 2005, an extensive retrospective of his works was held at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art on a year before his death.

Mesghali, Farshid

Farshid Mesghali studied painting At Faculty of Fine Arts at Tehran University. He began his professional career as a graphic designer and illustrator with "Negin Magazine".  Later, Mesghali joined the Institute for Intellectual Development for Children and Young Adults in Tehran where he illustrated books and created animated films for children.  He has won numerous awards including Honorary Diploma of Bologna Book Fair for "Hero", Special Prize at Venice Film Festival for "The Boy, The Bird & Musical Instrument", Hans Christian Anderson Award for his contribution to children's books illustration,  First Graphic Prize at Sixth International Children Book Fair in Bologna and Honorary Diploma, Bratislava Biannual in Czechoslovakia for "Little Black Fish", Special Prize at Cannes Film Poster Exhibition and  Moscow Film Festival for Short Films for Children for and the Grand Prize of Giffonni Film Festival in Italy for "Look Again".
Over the course of his versatile career in Paris, USA, and Iran, Mesghali has produced many paintings and sculptures, digital photos based on snapshots, and virtual reality environments for Internet for many clients including IBM, and AOL. His work has been exhibited in Europe, USA, and Iran.

Mojabi, Javad

Javad Mojabi was born in 1939, in Qazvin , Iran . He completed his bachelor degree in Law and obtained his PHD in Economy, from Tehran University .  Mojabi has published more than 100s of critical works and essays on art and culture in journals and magazines. He is well known for his poems, collections of short stories, children stories, satire, satirical sketches, essays, research, and plays.
He started his poetry from the 60's along with short story writing and research on modern painting in Iran.  Mostly focusing on social themes, he is a poet of philosophy and thought, which he sweetens with a blend of satire.
In one of his speeches at Pen, New York , October 30, 1999 Mr. Mojabi says: "…When writing, we, poets and writers, are the explorers of our solitude and individuality; and the others and the world discover them in us and reveal themselves through our writing. We begin with ourselves and reach the others. We start from our own culture, and through a deep recognition of our own identity, recognize the cultures of other people, our world relatives. Thus, world cultures are united through the language of art. This is a world that had been unified in the beginning; and now, after many centuries, it is moving in the direction of an ineluctable unity..."

Meraji, Mahmoud
www.mahmoudmeraji.com

Mahmoud Meraji was born in Tehran in 1958. He describes the first years of his life as idyllic, lyrical, and protected. He spent most of his time painting in a small garden in his backyard where he played among the wild roses and luscious growth. In 1976, Meraji formed his own studio where, between periods of teaching his students, he began to experiment more freely. He also began his search for a vision and style that would reflect his inner self and his feelings about the increasingly turbulent world around him. Meraji held his first solo exhibition in Tehran in 1982, and his reputation in Iran grew rapidly from this moment on. Between exhibitions, Meraji continued to fill a plethora of commissions for portraits and still lives to pursue the development of his personal artistic vision. In 1997, he moved to Toronto with his family. He had numerous exhibitions in Toronto and he has also received several prizes.

Nami, Gholamhossein

With over forty solo and group exhibitions in Europe, Asia, Canada, and the US, numerous lectures and publications, and many international awards and recognitions, Nami has established himself as an undisputed master of visual arts. Nami’s commitment to education in visual arts has gone beyond academia (he has over thirty-five years experience in teaching art at various art universities in Tehran) and outreached the members of the community through many public lectures and workshops. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the School of Fine Arts in Iran and continued his education in the US and obtained his Master of Fine Arts from University of Wisconsin. Some of his paintings are part of the permanent collection of museums in Iran and the US, and his awards include "Golden Palm of Europe" award, "Oscar d'Italia 1985," "Statue of Golden Flame," International Parliament USA, The "Encyclopedia Iranica" Award (Columbia University, U.S.A. 2005), and "European Banner of the Arts."

Ovissi, Nasser
www.galleryovissi.com

With exhibitions spanning across the globe from Brazil to Japan, Europe, and the United States, Nasser Ovissi has firmly established himself as a brilliant and versatile international artist whose passionate work presents a unique blend of European, Persian, and contemporary art. A painter, sculptor, engraver, designer, and goldsmith, he has published over seventeen books in Italian, Japanese, French, Spanish, Persian, and English. He has also received numerous international awards and prizes. Nasser Ovissi is featured in E. Benezit's "Dictionaire des Peintures, Sculpteurs, Dessinatrurs et Graveurs" Vol. 9, Librurie Grand, Paris. His work is part of major museum collections such as the National Gallery of Athens, the New York University Art Museum, the Fine Art Museum of North Carolina, the Contemporary Art Museum of Madrid, and the National Museum of Oriental Art in Rome, and is included in over 300 private collections worldwide.