Alireza Shojaian

Alireza Shojaian is an Iranian artist, born 1988, Tehran, Iran, based in Paris, France.
As an artist, he is trying to challenge societies and make space for non-heteronormative masculine identities. Reflecting on the queer history of the Middle East, the present context, and his own experiences.

Shojain finished his bachelor studies in fine arts, painting at Islamic Azad University, Tehran central branch in 2014 and he persuades a master's degree in the same university between 2014-2016 but he couldn’t obtain his master degree because of the subject of his thesis and final project which was Queer art.

Throughout his fine art studies encouraged by his university professor, Shojaian began to explore his queer art practice, pursue queer themes and narratives, and confront something which he had intentionally avoided but now found comfort in. Shojaian’s work was hidden away for the entirety of his studies while the work of his peers hung unashamed in the corridors and galleries of the Iranian capital.
Shojaian knew he could not continue his work in Iran, where his first series on queer art remained un-exhibited. With the movement to the US or Europe limited by sanctions, Shojaian looked closer to home for freedom and saw Leban...

Bachelor in fine arts, Islamic Azad University, Tehran central branch, Iran

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018, Sweet Blasphemy, Artlab Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon

2017, Corps-à-corps, Artlab Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon

DUET EXHIBITION
2021, Ombres d'hommes, Gallery Depardieu, Nice, France

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019, Printmaking, Kennedy Heights Arts Center, Cincinnati, Ohio

2019, Twelve Gate Arts, Philadelphia

2018, Red Action, Flux Factory, New York

2018, Beirut Art Fair, Lebanon

2018, Catalogue, Artlab Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon

2018, Three and a half, 392Rmeil393, Beirut, Lebanon

2018, Printmaking, Sim Art Gallery, Alesund, Norway

2017, Culture and stereotypes, Artlab Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon

2017, Radical, French Institute, Beirut, Lebanon

2017, Beirut Art Fair, Lebanon

2017,Annual printmaking exchange, Laleh Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2016, Collection of Fereydoun Ave, Lajevardi Foundation, Tehran, Iran

2016, Identity, Shirin Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2016, Printmaking, Hoormazd Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2016, Annual printmaking exchange, Laleh Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2015, Characteristic, Vista Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2015, three drops, Arte Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2015, Narrator Painter, Shirin Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2015, printmaking, Cultural S...