FARHAD ABDI

Farhad Abdi, born in Tehran, Iran, is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative practice spans painting, graphic design, illustration, and sculptor. With over two decades of experience, Farhad has built a diverse and evolving body of work rooted in visual storytelling, emotional depth, and a unique sensitivity to form and color. He is an official member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), underscoring his longstanding engagement with cultural institutions and the broader art community.

Farhad’s artistic journey began with a solo exhibition at the Tehran, marking the start of a career defined by exploration and experimentation across mediums. His early involvement in the world of animation and film—particularly as a screenwriter and director—laid the foundation for the poetic and narrative qualities that continue to influence his visual art today. His short animation For Zero was awarded Best Short Animation by the student jury at the Tehran International Animation Festival, and he also contributed to the Tehran International Short Film Festival as a writer.

In addition to his work in moving image, Farhad has consistently pursued painting as a central form of expression. His paintings are known for their quiet emotional resonance, simplicity of form, and contemplative tone. Over the years, he has presented his work in solo and group exhibitions in various countries, collaborating with cultural institutions such as the ECO Cultural Institute, the Museums of Iran, the cultural section of embassies, and international organizations like ICOM. These collaborations reflect his interest in cross-cultural dialogue and his ability to bridge diverse artistic communities.

Farhad’s style often moves between minimalism and metaphor. His use of bold lines, limited color palettes, and symbolic forms reflects a deep sensitivity to presence and silence. His recent series, To Be the Tree, represents a turning point in his artistic journey — a body of work that reflects on rootedness, solitude, endurance, and the quiet strength found in nature and within the self. Through this series, Farhad invites viewers into a meditative space where trees become metaphors for human experience, and painting becomes a way of listening, pausing, and reconnecting with inner rhythms.

Today, Farhad continues to live and work between countries, drawing on a lifetime of artistic exploration to create works that are both personal and universal. His work resists spectacle and speaks instead to the slow, often unnoticed layers of feeling and time — offering a quiet but powerful presence in today’s fast-moving world.