Dana Nehdaran was born in the Iranian neighborhood of Chaharbagh on the anniversary of his maternal grandfather’s death in 1982. He took his given name, Rahmatollah, from his grandfather who was an art, antique and rare gem merchant; however, he has always been known by his Persian name, Dana, meaning wise. His grandparents’ home held a marvelous collection of paintings and antiques, and his mother and father were arts aficionados, traveling the world to view noted institutional and residential collections. As a child, Dana took great wonder and inspiration from this family’s passion for art and became motivated to study painting after discovering an uncle’s discarded box of art supplies at his grandmother’s house. His mother recognized his passion and talent, nurtured by sharing images from her world travels, and enrolled Dana in private art classes with Hassanpour, a well-known artist who taught Dana fundamentals of art that would eventually lead him to study painting at the Soureh Art University in Shiraz. The most recent series of Esther’s Children was shown in Tehran, Dubai and Los Angeles. Of the more than eight series that Dana has created, all have a focus on the tension between past and present. Dana has been a member of the Iranian Painter Association from 2007.

DANA NEHDARAN (B. 1982)

Education

2007 - BA Painting, Soureh University, Shiraz, Iran
2002 - Associate degree, Carpet design, Isfahan, Iran

Solo Exhibitions

2022 - A Preservation of Light, Spillman Blackwell Gallery, New Orleans, LA, USA
2016/2017 - Agitations of Pleasure, Shirin Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2013 - Esther's children, Rira Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2011 - Esther's children, Shirin Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2010 - My Mona Lisa, Nar Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2008 - The Inside Layers, Morteza Momayez Gallery, Iran Art Organisation, Tehran, Iran

Group Exhibitions

2024 - At Face Value, Station Independent Projects, Toronto, Canada
2024 - Face & Figures, Jim Kempner Fine Art, NY, USA
2023 - Persian Art, Ezra Gallery, Hampton, NY, USA
2023 - Summer time, Spillman Blackwell Fine Art, New Orleans, LA, USA
2023 - BRAZIL X IRAN, High Line Nine Gallery, New York, NY, USA
2020 - Self-reflection, High Line nine Gallery, New York, New York, USA
2019 - Material Culture, Elga Wimmer Gallery, New York, New York, USA
2018 - Art Brief IV, SOMArts Culture Center, San Francisco, California, USA
2018 - A Tale of Two Cities, Bonhams, Auction House, Los Angeles, California, USA
2018 - A Tale of Two Cities, Kamil Art Gallery, Monte Carlo, Monaco
2018 - The World is My Home, Advorcartsy gallery, Los Angeles, CA, USA
2017 - Art Show for a Cause, Mim Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca, USA
2017 - Art Brief III, The (UN)DRAPED WOMAN, Arena 1, LA, Ca, USA
2017 - The First Bayaan, Bayaan Art Gallery, Isfahan, Iran
2017 - Red, Negar Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2017 - Perception, Fereshteh Book City Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2016 - States of Being Abstract, Elga Wimmer Gallery, New York, USA
2016 - Art Brief II: Iranian Contemporary North America, Los Angeles, California, USA
2016 - Untitled, Smash Gallery, San Francisco, USA
2016 - On Figures, Vista Gaallery, Tehran, Iran
2016 - The Young Artist, Sareban Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2014 - Eraser, Shirin art center, Tehran, Iran
2013 - History Game, Etemad Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2012 - WONDERLAND, Shokouh Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2012 - Opening RIRA gallery, Dubai, UAE
2012 - Jinn (painting), Seyhoun Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2012 - Haft Negah (painting), Farhangsara Niavaran, Tehran , Iran
2012 - Magic of Persia, Art Exhibition & Auction Gala, Salsali Private Museum, Dubai, UAE
2012 - Iranian Contemporary Artist (painting), Middle East Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2011 - 1st Modern & Contemporary Visual Art Auction, Tehran, Iran
2011 - Cutting Edge Artists (painting), Mellat Cinema Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2011 - Iranian Painter Association (painting), Contemporary Arts Museum, Isfahan, Iran
2011 - The first Tehran painting market: Barg Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2011 - little dancer (painting), Henna Art gallery, Tehran, Iran
2010 - Young Avant-garde (painting), Mellat Cinema Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2010 - Encyclopaedia Iranica (Charity Art Exhibition), New York, USA
2010 - Auto-portraits II, Silk road gallery ,Tehran, Iran
2010 - Untitled (painting), Art Center, Tehran, Iran
2010 - Untitled (painting), Neel Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2009 - 1001 Colours (painting), Canvas Gallery, New York, USA
2009 - Colours for the Green (painting), Mellat Cinema Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2008 - Global Generation Freiburg Group Exhibition, Freiburg, Germany
2008 - Untitled (painting), Nar Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2007 - Photography Expo, Esteqlal hotel, Tehran, Iran
2007 - Eternal Papers (photography), Contemporary Arts Museum, Isfahan, Iran

Professional Experience

2010/2013 - Graphic design for Ofogh-E-Bina Journal (Tehran Jewish Committe)
2008 - Painter for stage/set for feature film, ‘The Remember’, Iran
2007 - Painter for stage/set for TV series, The Forbidden Fruit, IRIB, Iran

Membership

2007-Present - Member of the Iranian Painter Association

Competitions

2012 - Selected for 9th Image of the year Festival, Short Film Category for ‘Last Supper’ Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2011 - Selected for short list of MOP CAP, Traffic gallery, Dubai, UAE
2008 - Selected for Damoonfar Festival, Tehran, Iran
2006 - Selected for Damoonfar Festival, Tehran, Iran

Art Fair

2024 - Volta, NY, USA
2023 - Aisa Now, Paris, France
2018 - If so, what? San Fransisco, CA, USA
2016 - Art Miami Basel, Miami, Florida, USA

Biennal

2017 - Venezuela, Caracas

Musuem

- Salsali Private Museum, Two Pieces from Esther's Children series, Dubai, UAE
- DD Art & Cultural Center, Six pieces from The Inside Layers series, My Mona Lisa series, Esther's Children series and Agitation of Pleasure series, Mazandaran, IRAN

Awards

2004 - Winner of Special Prize in Persian New Year Photography, Isfahan, Iran
2003 - Winner of Special Prize in Sketching, Hafezieh Competition, Shiraz, Iran

Auction

2017 - artnet, Advorcartsy gallery, Los Angeles, CA, USA
2014 - Third Tehran Auction, Parsian Azadi Hotel, Tehran, Iran
2013 - Second Tehran auction, Parsian Azadi Hotel, Tehran, Iran
2012 - First Tehran auction, Parsian Azadi Hotel, Tehran, Iran