Born in Iran in 1969, Afshin Naghouni (Ash) immigrated to the United Kingdom in 1997. Considered a child prodigy, Naghouni started his oil painting training at the age of nine and won a number of regional and national painting competitions by the time he was twelve years old. Having exhibited widely in the UK and internationally, Naghouni now lives in London and continues his practice as a visual artist.
Education:
- Post Graduate, London Metropolitan University, Sir John Cass Department of Art Media and Design, 2008
Naghouni’s paintings reflect and question the social-political landscape of our world. The artist thrives on impregnating the viewer’s mind and inviting them to go ahead and try connecting with the work through experiencing aesthetic qualities beyond the apparent naked form. The works continually remind viewers that there is a darker, more sinister concept embedded within images – which at first glance seem harmless, aesthetically pleasing and even beautiful. Naghouni encourages us to challenge them. To discern how deeply into the work they would care to travel.
Artist Statement
“If I am ever to paint a thorn, I will hide it nicely under a bed of rose petals, and if I am to paint a rose, I will make sure that you will feel how damn sharp its thorns are!”
My paintings and in a way even my nudes reflect and question the social-political landscape of our world. I thrive on impregnating the viewer’s mind and understanding to go ahead and try connecting with the work through experiencing aesthetic qualities beyond the apparent naked form, or to continually reminding them that there is a darker more sinister concept embedded within images which at first glance seem harmless, aesthetically pleasing and even beautiful. To challenge them to discern how deeply into the work they would care to travel
Selected Events
Solo Exhibition
- 2015 “Satire” – Hay Hill Gallery, London, UK
- 2014 “Objectification II” – Go Figurative, London, UK
- 2013 “Objectification Solo” – Go Figurative, London, UK
- 2001 “Afshin Naghouni Solo Exhibition” – St Raphael Gallery, London, UK
- 1997 “Afshin Naghouni Solo Exhibition” – Aaran Gallery, Tehran, Iran
Group Exhibition
- 2017 “Beyond the Ban: Contemporary Iranian art” – Susan Eley Gallery, New York City, US
- 2016 “Art with an Iranian Flavour” – Capsule A selection of Contemporary Art, partnership with Fiat Chrysler Motor Village UK and Monica Colussi, London, UK
- 2016 “ CONTEXT Art Miami” – Shirin Gallery, Miami, UK
- 2016 “Art for Youth” – The Afshin Naghouni Reach Prize, Mall Galleries, London, UK
- 2013 “PAYKAN, the Iranian Automobile” – Aun Gallery, Tehran, Iran
- 2013 “Discerning Eye” – Mall Galleries, London, UK
- 2013 “Peace from the Botom of My Art” – Opera Gallery, London, UK
- 2010 – 2014 “Art for Youth” – Mall Galleries, London, UK
- 2002 “Public Exhibition” – ZCMI Center, Salt Lake City, US
- 2002 “Public Exhibition” – Art gallery of Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Tokyo, Japan
- 2000 – 2009 “Art for Youth” – Mall Galleries, London, UK
More Artworks By Afshin Naghouni
