We are pleased to present works by the mysterious contemporary Iranian artist, the street muralist who goes by the pseudonym Mirza Hamid. He lives and works in Tehran Iran.

Mirza Hamid’s identity is unknown, and often he’s referred to in his home country as “The Banksy of Iran”. Though his work is well known in Iran, this is his first exhibition in the US.

During the past decade, his work has been appearing on the busy streets and back alleys of Tehran, with occasional forays into other cities. To date he has done several hundred murals. The city periodically paints over the murals, and Mirza Hamid paints more.

Hamid uses only an ancient red earth as his medium, the exact same timeless medium used in ancient cave paintings. His work refers to the origin of all things, to art being inherent in all humans. He reminds us that we have always been one, one human race. In the context of the vast and modern city of Tehran, he paints on unique buildings chosen with a keen eye, both historic and modern architecture, and takes us to the seed of our want for art. Mirza Hamid depicts in graceful forms, an extract of all stories ever told.

Red Cow, 31” x 24”, Red Earth on Cut Canvas

“Red earth is the pigment used by the first humans to begin creating paintings, and since then, throughout all the eras of human history, it’s been incorporated in various forms. This same pigment was used on earthenware, water jugs and dishes in the primitive times, which are still found in abundance in Iran. Moving forward through time, it became a symbol for life after death, where the deceased were covered in red earth to help usher them to the next world.

Red earth is not only a pigment, it carries with it all the meaning that it’s absorbed through human history, and it generously gifts this wisdom to whomever uses it, whether it’s on an ancient ceramic; or on a mummified Egyptian Pharaoh; or in the streets of Tehran; or on the ruins of Damascus.

Red earth exists still in it’s original quality and delicacy, much like a wild Poppy flower that still emerges out of the soil’s heart with the same characteristics and delicacy as it did at the origin of time.”

-Mirza Hamid

Photographs by Morvarid Khalilazad, architect and photographer. Khalilzad, through collaboration with the enigmatic Mirza Hamid, has documented Mirza Hamid’s street murals, some of which have already been painted over by the city as is often the destiny of most street art  everywhere. Her photographs defy the erasure of history, and give context to Mirza Hamid’s works. 

Morvarid Khalilzad, with her own sense of composition and beauty, her deep connection with the city of Tehran, the understanding and love of architecture, gives us an intimate point of view onto how Mirza Hamid’s work weaves into the everyday life of this metropolis. 

She lives and works in Tehran, Iran. 

The limited editions photographs are signed by both Morvarid Khalilzad and Mirza Hamid.