Parviz Tanavoli

<h2 id="early-life-and-education">Early life and education</h2>
Parviz Tanavoli was born 24 March 1937 in <a href="/facts/Tehran/S8dmdwyG">Tehran</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a> In 1952, he started his education at the Tehran School of Fine Arts (now part of the University of Tehran).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a> He continued his studies in Italy at the <a href="/facts/Accademia_di_Belle_Arti_di_Carrara/SUvj2cCb">Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara</a> (Italian: Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara) in 1956 to 1957; as well as at <a href="/facts/Pinacoteca_di_Brera/ks8x9t4n">Brera Academy</a> (Italian: Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera) in <a href="/facts/Milan/0xrtbPdt">Milan</a> from 1958 to 1959 .<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a> He studied under sculptor <a href="/facts/Marino_Marini_(sculptor)/wzAWL8M6">Mariano Marini</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a>
Upon graduating from the Brera Academy in 1959, he returned to Iran in 1960 and taught sculpting at the College of Decorative Arts in Tehran.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a>

<h2 id="career">Career</h2>
<h3>Teaching</h3>
Upon his return to Iran, he started teaching at the Tehran College of Decorative Arts, where he was also a founding member. Many pioneers of Iranian modern art, such as <a href="/facts/Hossein_Zenderoudi/Gm1saLp5">Zenderoudi</a>, studied under him at this college. From February 1961 to 1964, Tanavoli taught sculpture for three years at the <a href="/facts/Minneapolis_College_of_Art_and_Design/l253M8Us">Minneapolis College of Art and Design</a>, as a guest of art collector Abby Grey.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a> He then returned to Iran and assumed the directorship of the sculpture department at the Tehran University (now <a href="/facts/University_of_Tehran/3NkndgMK">University of Tehran</a>), a position he held for 18 years until 1979 when he retired from his teaching duties.
In addition to his tenure as a sculpture professor at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design from 1961 to 1964 and his 18-year directorship of the sculpture department at Tehran University, Tanavoli has continued to teach and mentor young artists. Tanavoli's newest "heeches" exhibition, titled "All and Nothing," was held at Tehran's Art Space Gallery from July 6 to August 3, 2022. The exhibition showcased the works of 40 of his students and his own newest "heeches," which are among his most recognized works.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a>

<h3>Artwork</h3>

He is the main figure and the key member of the Saqqakhaneh group of artists who share a common popular aesthetic, according to the scholar <a href="/facts/Karim_Emami/AkSutl0h">Karim Emami</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a> He has been influenced heavily by his country's history and culture, and traditions and has always been fascinated with <a href="/facts/Locksmithing/Qg0mY9vS">locksmithing</a>. Tanavoli was once a cultural advisor to the <a href="/facts/Shahbanu/xY51CACb">Shahbanu</a> <a href="/facts/Farah_Pahlavi/H0G39k20">Farah Pahlavi</a>. Tanavoli is known for his heeches, three-dimensional representations of the Persian word for 'nothing', heech.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a> Composed of three <a href="/facts/Persian_language/jfUYbHbt">Persian</a> characters in the style of <a href="/facts/Nasta%27liq/d6jzdwXB">nasta'liq</a>, the three letters <a href="/facts/Persian_alphabet/4DvPdTDe">he</a>, <a href="/facts/Persian_alphabet/4DvPdTDe">ye</a> and <a href="/facts/Persian_alphabet/4DvPdTDe">če</a> are combined to produce the word heech.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a>\
In 2003, Tanavoli turned his Tehran house into the "Museum of Parviz Tanavoli," showcasing his personal art collection, which was only open for a few months due to political issues in Iran.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18">18</a>

<h3>Rasht 29 Club</h3>
In 1967, Tanavoli, <a href="/facts/Kamran_Diba/Kdf2t079">Kamran Diba</a>, and Roxana Saba (daughter of <a href="/facts/Abolhasan_Saba/KdnMagKK">Abolhasan Saba</a>) founded the Rasht 29 Club on a northern street near the <a href="/facts/Amirkabir_University_of_Technology/a1NsEY5V">Amirkabir University of Technology</a> (formerly the Tehran Polytechnic).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19">19</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20">20</a> Rasht 29 Club was named after the street address, and it was a popular hangout amongst artists of the time including <a href="/facts/Marcos_Grigorian/qtIlES99">Marcos Grigorian</a>, <a href="/facts/Hossein_Zenderoudi/Gm1saLp5">Hossein Zenderoudi</a>, <a href="/facts/Sadegh_Tabrizi/j6zxj1Nv">Sadegh Tabrizi</a>, Faramarz Pilaram, <a href="/facts/Sohrab_Sepehri/cvFkFYWG">Sohrab Sepehri</a>, <a href="/facts/Massoud_Arabshahi/SWSWce9F">Massoud Arabshahi</a>, <a href="/facts/Yadollah_Royaee/2Sjvf0qJ">Yadollah Royai</a>, <a href="/facts/Nader_Naderpour/4LscluFF">Nader Naderpour</a>, <a href="/facts/Reza_Baraheni/uLm78f3V">Reza Baraheni</a>, Esmail Shahroudi, <a href="/facts/Ahmadreza_Ahmadi/5zw9wXQ4">Ahmadreza Ahmadi</a>, <a href="/facts/Bijan_Elahi/1BMCdU9E">Bijan Elahi</a>, <a href="/facts/Ebrahim_Golestan/6EUyAGvD">Ebrahim Golestan</a>, Hageer Daruish, <a href="/facts/Kamran_Shirdel/xNezG4Ks">Kamran Shirdel</a>, <a href="/facts/Sadeq_Chubak/qSww69Yo">Sadeq Chubak</a>, Karl Schlamminger, and others.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21">21</a>

<h3>Sales</h3>
Tanavoli's work has been auctioned worldwide, leading to over $9 million in overall sales, making him the most expensive living Iranian artist.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22">22</a> In 2008, his work, The Wall (Oh Persepolis), an almost 2-meter tall bronze sculpture covered in incomprehensible hieroglyphs fetched USD 2.84 million at a Dubai Christie's sale, which was an auction record for an artist of Middle Eastern origins.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23">23</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24">24</a>

<h2 id="exhibitions">Exhibitions</h2>
The most recent solo exhibition of Parviz Tanavoli, "Parviz Tanavoli: Poets, Locks, Cages",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25">25</a> took place from July 1, 2023, to November 19, 2023, showcasing a comprehensive range of his works spanning six decades. This exhibition, held at <a href="/facts/Vancouver_Art_Gallery/CcwpMCLA">Vancouver Art Gallery</a>, provided a thorough retrospective of his career.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26">26</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27">27</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28">28</a>
Prior to this, his solo exhibition was in 2019 at the West Vancouver Art Museum entitled "Oh Nightingale". Before that, he had another solo exhibition in 2017 at the <a href="/facts/Tehran_Museum_of_Contemporary_Art/Czt0WILe">Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art</a> based on his Lions works and Lion collection.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29">29</a>
In 2015, after four decades, <a href="/facts/Davis_Museum_at_Wellesley_College/MqzQvoKN">Davis Museum at Wellesley College</a> organized the first solo exhibition of Tanavoli's work in the US.
In 2003 he had a major retrospective at the <a href="/facts/Tehran_Museum_of_Contemporary_Art/Czt0WILe">Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art</a>. Prior to that he had held solo exhibitions in <a href="/facts/Austria/4qWIMIyc">Austria</a>, <a href="/facts/Italy/tUf0PDYF">Italy</a>, <a href="/facts/Germany/paluuWBX">Germany</a>, <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a> and <a href="/facts/United_Kingdom/kuPAILt2">Britain</a>. Tanavoli has been in group exhibitions internationally.
His work has been displayed at the <a href="/facts/Tate_Modern/qtnHzbIF">Tate Modern</a>, <a href="/facts/British_Museum/mq5LadWV">British Museum</a>, <a href="/facts/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art/mLfcKgHF">Metropolitan Museum of Art</a>, the <a href="/facts/Grey_Art_Gallery/GXQFTe0o">Grey Art Gallery</a> - <a href="/facts/New_York_University/4UnIkThy">New York University</a>, the <a href="/facts/Isfahan/BLw4k2fm">Isfahan</a> City Center, <a href="/facts/Nelson_Rockefeller/z8PypI6c">Nelson Rockefeller</a> Collection, New York, <a href="/facts/Olympic_Park,_Seoul/en912fmc">Olympic Park, Seoul</a>, <a href="/facts/South_Korea/pCobAaVw">South Korea</a>, the Royal Museum of Jordan, the Museum of Modern Art, <a href="/facts/Vienna/NSpIURsA">Vienna</a>, <a href="/facts/Museum_of_Modern_Art,_New_York/75lxKjfj">Museum of Modern Art, New York</a>, <a href="/facts/Walker_Art_Center/evtAI7zI">Walker Art Center</a>, <a href="/facts/Minneapolis/gEsXsP3d">Minneapolis</a>, <a href="/facts/Hamline_University/Lb84tRs8">Hamline University</a>, <a href="/facts/Saint_Paul,_Minnesota/xamlBwUm">St. Paul</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30">30</a> and <a href="/facts/Shiraz_University/uTaB4CrH">Shiraz University</a>, Iran.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31">31</a>

<h2 id="politics-and-art">Politics and art</h2>
In 2005, he created a small piece of sculpture called Heech in a Cage to protest the conditions of the American-held prisoners at <a href="/facts/Guantanamo_Bay_detainment_camp/VhKvUdIk">Guantanamo Bay detainment camp</a> and in 2006, began work on his piece to honor the victims of the <a href="/facts/2006_Israel-Lebanon_conflict/fBLLu3GN">Israeli-Lebanon war</a>.
A day before Tanavoli was due to speak at the British Museum in 2016, authorities in Iran confiscated his passport, preventing him from leaving the country, accusing him of "disturbing the public peace". Tanavoli explained that "I have not done anything wrong. I spent the whole day at the passport office, but no one told me anything, nor did anyone at the airport. I'm not a political person, I'm merely an artist."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:32" href="#fn:32">32</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:33" href="#fn:33">33</a>

<h2 id="honors-and-legacy">Honors and legacy</h2>
In 2015, the biographical documentary film, Parviz Tanavoli: Poetry in Bronze, was released. It was directed by Terrence Turner and produced by Timothy Turner and Tandis Tanavoli.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:34" href="#fn:34">34</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:35" href="#fn:35">35</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:36" href="#fn:36">36</a>
In October 2020, the former Mina Street in the <a href="/facts/Niavaran/9kUt6sKw">Niavaran</a> neighborhood was renamed Parviz Tanavoli by the municipality of Tehran.

<h2 id="bibliography">Bibliography</h2>
<h3>Authored or co-authored by Tanavoli</h3>
Tanavoli has authored over forty publications dating back over four decades. Among these are:

<ul><li>Tanavoli, Parviz; Wertime, John T. (1976). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=4kLrAAAAMAAJ">Locks from Iran; Pre-Islamic to Twentieth Century</a>. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (1985). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=QV5JAQAAIAAJ">Lion Rugs: The Lion in the Art and Culture of Iran</a>. Universität Zürich. Völkerkundemuseum, Musée des arts décoratifs de la ville de Lausanne. Basel: Transbooks. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9783859770782.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (1985). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=zN1tQgAACAAJ">Shahsavan Iranian Rugs and Textiles</a>. New York City, NY: Rizzoli. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9780847806263.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (1990). Gabbeh. Baar, Switzerland.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (1994). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=nqqSswEACAAJ">Bread and Salt: Iranian Tribal Spreads and Salt Bags</a>. Shirin Samii (translator). Ketab Sara Company.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (1994). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Y0LaAAAAMAAJ">Kings, Heroes and Lovers: Pictorial Rugs from the Tribes and Villages of Iran</a>. London, UK: Scorpion Pub. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9780905906867.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (1998). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=XIfFtgAACAAJ">Sofreh of Kamo</a>. Tehran, Iran: Yassavoli. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9789643060640.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parwīz (1998). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=UfuqmwEACAAJ">Horse and Camel Trappings from Tribal Iran: Riding in Splendour</a>. Intišārāt-i Yasāwulī.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (1998). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=KDwhAAAACAAJ">Tacheh of Chahar Mahal</a>. Yassavoli. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9789643060688.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2001). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=YWzWAAAAMAAJ">‏دستبافتهاى روستايى و عشايرى ورامين</a> [Rustic and Tribal Weaves from Varamin] (in Persian). Yassavoli. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9789643062118.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2002). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=wSPrAAAAMAAJ">Persian Flatweaves: A Survey of Flatwoven Floor Covers and Hangings and Royal Masnads</a>. London, UK: Antique Collectors' Club. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9781851493357.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2004). Gabbeh: Art Underfoot. Tehran, Iran: Yassavoli Publications. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9789643062972.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2005). Atelier Kaboud. Tehran, Iran: Bon-Gah. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9789649638300.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz; Sherrill, Sarah B. (2006). Sormehdan: Kohl Containers of Iran from Prehistory to the 19th Century. C. Ferguson (translation). Bon-Gah. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9789649638331.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2006). Talisman.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2007). Scales and Weights.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2008). Jewelry by Parviz Tanavoli.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2009). Tomb Stone. Tehran: Bongah.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2010). Ceramics. Tehran: Bongah.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2010). Afshar; Tribal Weaves from Southern Iran. Tehran: Iranian Academy of Arts.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2011). Rugs. Tehran: Bongah.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2012). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=SjggKQEACAAJ">Undiscovered Minimalism: Gelims from Northern Iran</a>. London, UK: Laurence King Publishing. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9781898113768.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2012). Wonders of Universe. Tehran: Bongah.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2014). Poet (in Persian). Tehran, Iran: Bon-Gah.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2015). An Introduction To The History Of Graphic Design In Iran. Tehran, Iran: Nazar Publishing.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2015). Salt Bags: Iranian Tribal And Rural Weavings. Tehran, Iran: Nazar Publishing. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9786001521867.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2016). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=mkBPzAEACAAJ">European Women in Persian Houses: Western Images in Safavid and Qajar Iran</a>. Bloomsbury Academic. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9781784535070.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2017). Sherrill, Sarah B. (ed.). Khorjins: Tribal And Rural Weaves From Iran (in Persian). Vol. 2. Tehran, Iran: Nazar Publishing. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9786001522239.</li>
<li>Khosrowshahi, Maryam; Floor, Willem M.; Tanavoli, Parviz (2017). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=OEcoMQAACAAJ">Sofreh: The Art of Persian Celebration</a>. Vol. 1. ACC Art Books. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9781851498581.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2017). Sherrill, Sarah B. (ed.). Khorjins: Tribal And Rural Weaves From Iran (in Persian). Vol. 2. Tehran, Iran: Nazar Publishing. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9786001522239.</li></ul>
<h3>On Tanavoli</h3>
Films, books, catalogs and magazines on Parviz Tanavoli

<ul><li>Film: The biographical documentary film, “Parviz Tanavoli: Poetry in Bronze” was released in 2015</li>
<li>Parviz Tanavoli's : <a href="/facts/Monograph/o8VRGpVc">Monograph</a> is considered the first exquisite "Catalog raisonné " of an artist in the Middle East. Notes by Parviz Tanavoli, Sia Aramjani, Shiva Balaghi, <a href="/facts/Kamran_Diba/Kdf2t079">Kamran Diba</a>, Gisela Fook, Maryam Saudi, Alireza Sami Azar and Tandis Tanavoli have been published in this book.</li></ul>
This book, in English and Arabic, was published once and for all in a limited edition of 1000 volumes, each with a unique number, in 2010 with the support of the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi, <a href="/facts/Khalifa_bin_Zayed_Al_Nahyan/2p7WLtUQ">Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan</a>, and was purchased by famous collectors and libraries.

<ul><li>Tanavoli, Parviz; <a href="/facts/Tarlan_Rafiee/4XG3Fjl5">Rafiee, Tarlan</a>; Samimi Mofakham, Yashar; <a href="/facts/Peter_Assmann/SR4tvxKW">Assmann, Peter</a> (2020). Solace of Lovers. Trost Der Liebenden. Innsbruck, Austria: <a href="/facts/Tyrolean_State_Museum/HcUP7jJM">Tiroler Landesmuseen</a> Betriebsgesellschaft m.b.H. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-3-7099-8119-1.</li>
<li>Porter, Venetia; Hatam, Behzad, eds. (2017). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=zN1tQgAACAAJ">Parviz Tanavoli and the Lions of Iran</a>. Tehran, Iran: Nazar Publishing. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9786001522413.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz; Fischman, Lisa; Balaghi, Shiva; Amirsadeghi, Hossein; Eisler, Maryam Homayoun (2015). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=h2tnrgEACAAJ">Parviz Tanavoli</a>. Davis Museum and Cultural Center. Davis Museum, Wellesley College. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9780985824938.</li>
<li>Ghomshei, Morteza; Royaee, Sina; Balaghi, Shiva (2011). Sherrill, Sarah B. (ed.). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=uBkxzgEACAAJ">Heech: Works of Parviz Tanavoli</a>. Tehran, Iran: Bon-Gah Publications. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9786005268102.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (2011). Parviz Tanavoli: Poet in Love: 1970s-2011 works from the artist's collection. London: Austin/Desmond Fine Art. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-1-872926-35-3.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz; Pocock, Charles; Faruqi, Samar (2010). Parviz Tanavoli: Monograph. Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Publications Department of Meem with Art Advisory Associates Ltd. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-1-907051-03-6.</li>
<li>Allan, James W.; Gilmour, Brian J. J. (2000). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Qg_rAAAAMAAJ">Persian Steel: The Tanavoli Collection</a>. Oxford Studies in Islamic art. Vol. 15. Oxford University Press for the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford and the British Institute of Persian Studies. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9780197280256.</li>
<li><a href="/facts/David_Galloway_(writer)/6oPM1Kf1">Galloway, David D.</a>, ed. (2000). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=0YG6AAAACAAJ">Parviz Tanavoli: Sculptor, Writer & Collector</a>. James W. Allan. Iranian Art Publishing. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9789649140346.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz; Universität Zürich; Völkerkundemuseum; Musée des arts décoratifs de la ville de Lausanne (1985). Lion rugs: the lion in the art and culture of Iran. Basel: publisher not identified]; Distributed in the USA by Transbooks. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-3-85977-078-2.</li>
<li>Tanavoli, Parviz (1976). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=h3riPgAACAAJ">Parviz Tanavoli: Fifteen Years of Bronze Sculpture</a> (art exhibition). <a href="/facts/Grey_Art_Gallery/GXQFTe0o">Grey Art Gallery</a> and Study Center. New York: Grey Art Gallery and Study Center, New York University.</li></ul>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Iranian_handicrafts/KNEQU61v">Iranian handicrafts</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Iranian_modern_and_contemporary_art/K5kBISwI">Iranian modern and contemporary art</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2>
<ul><li>Venetia Porter (2022), Parviz Tanavoli: A Life In Art: Virus of Collecting and Atelier Kaboud, Tehran, Iran, Nazar Art Publication ISBN 9786001523489.</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Sussan_Babaie/H2UcaQys">Babaie, Sussan</a>; Porter, Venetia; Morris, Natasha (2017). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=cds-vgAACAAJ">Honar: The Afkhami Collection of Modern and Contemporary Iranian Art</a>. New York City, NY: Phaidon Press. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9780714873527.</li>
<li>Allan, James W.; Gilmour, Brian J. J. (2000). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Qg_rAAAAMAAJ">Persian Steel: The Tanavoli Collection</a>. Oxford Studies in Islamic art. Vol. 15. Oxford University Press for the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford and the British Institute of Persian Studies. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9780197280256.</li></ul>
<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Parviz Tanavoli.

<ul><li>Film: <a href="http://www.poetryinbronze.com">Poetryinbronze.com</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4420538/">Parviz Tanavoli: Poetry in Bronze</a> at <a href="/facts/IMDb_(identifier)/uWrqVYVy">IMDb</a></li>
<li>Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9RpWO3Ypvo">1970s Parviz Tanavoli, Iranian Sculptor</a>, from Kinolibrary Archive Film Collections on YouTube</li>
<li>Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulkpbt_GigU">1978 Interview with Parviz Tanavoli, Iranian Sculptor in HD</a>, from Kinolibrary Archive Film Collections on YouTube</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Foundation, Encyclopaedia Iranica. "Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica". iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 2024-03-19. <a href="https://iranicaonline.org/" target="_blank">https://iranicaonline.org/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (2016-07-02). "Renowned Iranian artist Parviz Tanavoli barred from leaving the country, the artist was due to fly to London to speak at the British Museum but had his passport confiscated without explanation". The Guardian. ISSN 1756-3224. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/02/renowned-iranian-artist-parvis-tanavoli-detained-in-tehran" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/02/renowned-iranian-artist-parvis-tanavoli-detained-in-tehran</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (2016-01-01). "Parviz Tanavoli: Iranian artist who made something out of nothing". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/01/parviz-tanavoli-iranian-artist-made-something-nothing" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/01/parviz-tanavoli-iranian-artist-made-something-nothing</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Muñoz-Alonso, Lorena (2016-07-04). "Iranian Officials Seize Parviz Tanavoli's Passport". Artnet News. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/iran-confiscates-passport-parviz-tanavoli-539657" target="_blank">https://news.artnet.com/art-world/iran-confiscates-passport-parviz-tanavoli-539657</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">Lederman, Marsha (2015-02-20). "Master of bronze Parviz Tanavoli strives for recognition on home soil". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/master-of-bronze-parviz-tanavoli-strives-for-recognition-on-home-soil/article23125215/" target="_blank">https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/master-of-bronze-parviz-tanavoli-strives-for-recognition-on-home-soil/article23125215/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Tate. "Parviz Tanavoli born 1937". Tate. Retrieved 2024-03-07. <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/parviz-tanavoli-15957" target="_blank">https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/parviz-tanavoli-15957</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (2016-01-01). "Parviz Tanavoli: Iranian artist who made something out of nothing". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/01/parviz-tanavoli-iranian-artist-made-something-nothing" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/01/parviz-tanavoli-iranian-artist-made-something-nothing</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Bloom, Jonathan; Blair, Sheila S.; Blair, Sheila (2009-05-14). Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture: Three-Volume Set. OUP USA. pp. 268–269. ISBN 978-0-19-530991-1. <a href="978-0-19-530991-1" target="_blank">978-0-19-530991-1</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">Bloom, Jonathan; Blair, Sheila S.; Blair, Sheila (2009-05-14). Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture: Three-Volume Set. OUP USA. pp. 268–269. ISBN 978-0-19-530991-1. <a href="978-0-19-530991-1" target="_blank">978-0-19-530991-1</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">Bloom, Jonathan; Blair, Sheila S.; Blair, Sheila (2009-05-14). Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture: Three-Volume Set. OUP USA. pp. 268–269. ISBN 978-0-19-530991-1. <a href="978-0-19-530991-1" target="_blank">978-0-19-530991-1</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">Porter, Venetia; Rosser-Owen, Mariam (2012-06-29). Metalwork and Material Culture in the Islamic World: Art, Craft, and Text. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 486. ISBN 978-0-85773-343-6. <a href="978-0-85773-343-6" target="_blank">978-0-85773-343-6</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">Bloom, Jonathan; Blair, Sheila S.; Blair, Sheila (2009-05-14). Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture: Three-Volume Set. OUP USA. pp. 268–269. ISBN 978-0-19-530991-1. <a href="978-0-19-530991-1" target="_blank">978-0-19-530991-1</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Shima, Shahmiri (July 26, 2018). "Celebrated Sculptor Parviz Tanavoli: They Can't Stop Me". <a href="https://iranwire.com/en/features/65440/" target="_blank">https://iranwire.com/en/features/65440/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">"تناولي و 40 سال هنرآموزي". شرق (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-04-03. <a href="https://www.sharghdaily.com/بخش-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87-100/190839-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%87%D9%86%D8%B1%D8%A2%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B2" target="_blank">https://www.sharghdaily.com/بخش-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87-100/190839-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%87%D9%86%D8%B1%D8%A2%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B2</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">Ekhtiar, Maryam; Rooney, Julia (April 2014). "Artists of the Saqqakhana Movement (1950s–60s)". Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Metropolitan Museum of Art. metmuseum.org. Retrieved 2017-02-04. <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/saqq/hd_saqq.htm" target="_blank">http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/saqq/hd_saqq.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">Lederman, Marsha (2015-02-20). "Master of bronze Parviz Tanavoli strives for recognition on home soil". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/master-of-bronze-parviz-tanavoli-strives-for-recognition-on-home-soil/article23125215/" target="_blank">https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/master-of-bronze-parviz-tanavoli-strives-for-recognition-on-home-soil/article23125215/</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:17">"Standing heech". National Museums Scotland. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170204170242/http://www.nms.ac.uk/explore/stories/world-cultures/standing-heech/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20170204170242/http://www.nms.ac.uk/explore/stories/world-cultures/standing-heech/</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:18">Lederman, Marsha (2015-02-20). "Master of bronze Parviz Tanavoli strives for recognition on home soil". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/master-of-bronze-parviz-tanavoli-strives-for-recognition-on-home-soil/article23125215/" target="_blank">https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/master-of-bronze-parviz-tanavoli-strives-for-recognition-on-home-soil/article23125215/</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:19">Grigor, Talinn (2014-06-15). Contemporary Iranian Art: From the Street to the Studio. Reaktion Books. ISBN 978-1-78023-309-3. <a href="978-1-78023-309-3" target="_blank">978-1-78023-309-3</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:20">Mohebbi, Sohrab. "Rasht 29: A cultural oasis in central Tehran". Bidoun, Issue 20. ISSN 1551-4048. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://bidoun.org/articles/rasht-29" target="_blank">https://bidoun.org/articles/rasht-29</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:21">Mohebbi, Sohrab. "Rasht 29: A cultural oasis in central Tehran". Bidoun, Issue 20. ISSN 1551-4048. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://bidoun.org/articles/rasht-29" target="_blank">https://bidoun.org/articles/rasht-29</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:22">".:: Art Tomorrow Magazine ::". www.artomorrow.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131105212700/http://www.artomorrow.com/eng/index.asp?page=49&id=206" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131105212700/http://www.artomorrow.com/eng/index.asp?page=49&id=206</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:23">Niknejad, Golnoush (April 26, 2009). "Oh Persepolis". Frontline, Tehran Bureau. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2009/04/oh-persepolis.html" target="_blank">http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2009/04/oh-persepolis.html</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:24">"Sculpture sets auction record". Los Angeles Times. 2008-05-02. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-may-02-et-quick2.s2-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-may-02-et-quick2.s2-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:25">"Parviz Tanavoli: Poets, Locks, Cages". www.vanartgallery.bc.ca. <a href="https://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/exhibitions/parviztanavoli" target="_blank">https://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/exhibitions/parviztanavoli</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:26">Thomson, John (2023-07-31). "Sculpture Meets Poetry". Galleries West. Retrieved 2023-12-13. <a href="https://www.gallerieswest.ca/api/content/c78f0936-25c7-11ee-9126-12163087a831/" target="_blank">https://www.gallerieswest.ca/api/content/c78f0936-25c7-11ee-9126-12163087a831/</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:27">"West Van artist known as 'Father of modern Iranian sculpture' featured at VAG". North Shore News. 2023-07-29. Retrieved 2023-12-13. <a href="https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/north-van-forensics-specialists-use-science-to-solve-crime-7184749" target="_blank">https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/north-van-forensics-specialists-use-science-to-solve-crime-7184749</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:28">"Parviz Tanavoli: Poets, Locks, Cages". www.vanartgallery.bc.ca. Retrieved 2023-12-13. <a href="https://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/exhibitions/parviztanavoli" target="_blank">https://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/exhibitions/parviztanavoli</a> <a href="#fnref:28" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:29">"Tanavoli's Works at TMoCA After 17 Years". Financial Tribune. 2017-06-18. Retrieved 2024-03-07. <a href="https://financialtribune.com/articles/art-and-culture/66679/tanavoli-s-works-at-tmoca-after-17-years" target="_blank">https://financialtribune.com/articles/art-and-culture/66679/tanavoli-s-works-at-tmoca-after-17-years</a> <a href="#fnref:29" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:30">"The Heech | Photos of Exhibition on Hamline Campus | Hamline University". Facebook. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/44687950743/photos/heech-sculpturea-defining-sculpture-on-the-hamline-campus-the-heech-is-the-work-/10151642516945744/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/44687950743/photos/heech-sculpturea-defining-sculpture-on-the-hamline-campus-the-heech-is-the-work-/10151642516945744/</a> <a href="#fnref:30" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:31">Harouni, Shadi (10 February 2015). "Parviz Tanavoli: plenty of 'nothing' - exhibition". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 February 2017. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/iran-blog/2015/feb/10/parviz-tanavoli-solo-us-exhibition-iranian-sculptor" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/world/iran-blog/2015/feb/10/parviz-tanavoli-solo-us-exhibition-iranian-sculptor</a> <a href="#fnref:31" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:32">Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (2016-07-02). "Renowned Iranian artist Parviz Tanavoli barred from leaving the country, the artist was due to fly to London to speak at the British Museum but had his passport confiscated without explanation". The Guardian. ISSN 1756-3224. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/02/renowned-iranian-artist-parvis-tanavoli-detained-in-tehran" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/02/renowned-iranian-artist-parvis-tanavoli-detained-in-tehran</a> <a href="#fnref:32" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:33">Muñoz-Alonso, Lorena (2016-07-04). "Iranian Officials Seize Parviz Tanavoli's Passport". Artnet News. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/iran-confiscates-passport-parviz-tanavoli-539657" target="_blank">https://news.artnet.com/art-world/iran-confiscates-passport-parviz-tanavoli-539657</a> <a href="#fnref:33" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:34">Lederman, Marsha (2015-02-20). "Master of bronze Parviz Tanavoli strives for recognition on home soil". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/master-of-bronze-parviz-tanavoli-strives-for-recognition-on-home-soil/article23125215/" target="_blank">https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/master-of-bronze-parviz-tanavoli-strives-for-recognition-on-home-soil/article23125215/</a> <a href="#fnref:34" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:35">"Photos: Sculptor Parviz Tanavoli and students reunite at Tehran's Boom gallery". Payvand.com. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="http://www.payvand.com/news/17/nov/1029.html" target="_blank">http://www.payvand.com/news/17/nov/1029.html</a> <a href="#fnref:35" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:36">"Sculptor Parviz Tanavoli and students reunite at Tehran gallery". Tehran Times. 2017-11-05. Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/418231/Sculptor-Parviz-Tanavoli-and-students-reunite-at-Tehran-gallery" target="_blank">https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/418231/Sculptor-Parviz-Tanavoli-and-students-reunite-at-Tehran-gallery</a> <a href="#fnref:36" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Parviz Tanavoli open-in-new

Parviz Tanavoli