Mehdi Nabavi

MEHDI NABAVI is an Iranian artist working between London, Toronto and Tehran. He is a painter, sculptor, and installation artist who has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in art galleries, museums, and art fairs across the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Throughout his artistic journey, his works have continually explored a diverse range of materials and techniques, particularly through his innovative use of mirrors.

The artist's exploration of the mirror reveals a profound understanding of its visual and conceptual power. In his hands, the mirror transcends its role as a simple reflective surface, becoming a medium for interaction between the artwork and the viewer. It not only reflects the external world but invites the viewer to become part of the piece, merging the self with the artwork's meaning. This dynamic exchange challenges traditional artistic boundaries, where the artist does not merely depict but integrates the environment into the work.

For Nabavi, the mirror holds a deeper cultural and historical resonance, invoking the intricate beauty of traditional Iranian mirror work in religious and monumental architecture. The fusion of ancient artistic practices with contemporary techniques in his work creates a dialogue between past and present, imbuing each piece with layers of meaning that address the complexities of identity, history, and cultural heritage. This synthesis reflects a deep engagement with the evolving nature of art, where history is not a static reference point but a living, breathing part of the conversation.

In his collections, Nabavi tackles powerful and often conflicting themes—beauty and violence, identity and fame, and the continuity between past and present. These themes do not exist in isolation but are presented as interconnected elements that reflect and respond to one another. The reflective surfaces of his works serve as a metaphor for how culture and identity continuously shift in response to external influences, constantly evolving as they interact with time, context, and the people who engage with them.

The viewer is invited into an ongoing dialogue where the boundaries between the self, the artwork, and the surrounding world are fluid and constantly redefined. This engagement encourages a reconsideration of how we perceive our identities and histories, urging a deeper reflection on how the past and present shape our understanding of the self and society. Through his innovative use of mirrors, Nabavi challenges conventional notions of art, creating a space where reflection and meaning are in perpetual motion.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS IN MUSEUMS

2019  Long Live Rembrandt, Rijks Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2017  Sculpture, Salsali private Museum, Dubai, UAE

2015 There Are Too Many Walls but Not Enough Bridges, Kunst (Zeug) Haus Rapperswil Museum, Zurich, Switzerland

2014 Neo-Traditionalism in Contemporary Iranian Art, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. MOCA

1997 4th Biannual of Iranian Painting, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. MOCA

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

2026 Reflections, Marie Jose Gallery, London, UK

2025 Recreation, Negah Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran 2025 Cultural Folding, Nian Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran 2025 Thingness, Iranshahr Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2025  N Gallery, Paris, France

2024  Sholeh Abghari Art Gallery, Marbella, Spain 2024  Capital Art London Gallery, London, UK

2022  Arta Gallery, Toronto, Canada

2021  One of us Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2020  Podium Zuidhaege, Assen, Netherlands 2017 Ariana Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2016 Negah Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran 2014 Naghshe Jahan, Tehran, Iran

2014 Henna Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran 2014 Aun Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2012 Azad Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran 2010 Mah Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS IN ART GALLERIES:

2025  Ex Voto’s, Group show curated by Rose Issa, Tank Magazine, London 2025 Fast forward, Iranshahr Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2024  Privet collection of Farah Diba, Fiap Jean Monnet, Paris, France 2024  Capital Art London Gallery, London, UK

2023  Back to the Future, Gallery Nikolas Flamel, Paris, France 2023  The Visible Tragedy, Online on Artsy

2021  Galerie Erga, Montreal, Canada

2020  Martini Plaza, Groningen, Netherlands

2017  Meeting Art Gallery, Atelier Natalia Gromicho, Lisbon, Portugal 2016 Etemad Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2015 National Library, Tehran, Iran 2014  Opera Gallery, Dubai, UAE

2014  AB Gallery, Emmenbruke, Switzerland 2014 Shirin Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2014  Gallery Nikolas Flamel, Paris, France 2013 Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran, Iran

2011 Azad Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

ART FAIRS

2025  London Art Fair (Capital Art London Gallery) London, UK

2018    Art Ankara (Portagal Cicegi Sanat Kolonisi) Ankara, Turky 2017  Parma Art Fair (Neo Art) Parma, Italy

2015    Scope Basel (AB Contemporary) Basel, Switzerland 2013    Art Dubai (Ayyam Gallery) Dubai, UAE

2013    Art Kuwait, Kuwait

2014  Art Expo New York (Mojdeh Art Gallery) New York, USA 2012  Abu Dhabi Art (Ayyam Gallery) UAE

2011  Beirut Art Fair (Azad Art Gallery) Beirut, Lebanon

Available Works