Born in Iran in 1957, artist Salar Ahmadian is a synthesis artist who has merged Iranian calligraphy with Western abstraction. Ahmadian studied painting in Tehran and has lived and worked in Canada for over 30 years. His long residence in Canada has significantly influenced and shaped his artistic career.
Salar Ahmadian – Life and Works
This long journey, which began in Iran and continued in Canada, has given him a unique advantage in reflecting the synthesis between East and West in his works. His art has been exhibited in galleries such as the Orlando Museum of Art and the Chelsea Gallery in London. His works have also been featured in numerous international exhibitions, including auctions at Christie’s.
Ornamental letters and artistically arranged geometric patterns have defined the visual culture of the Middle East for centuries. In the Islamic world, depictions of living beings were forbidden, inspiring artists to find alternative aesthetic forms of expression. In comparison, in modern Western painting, there has been a transition from objectivity to abstraction. These ornamental scripts and geometric compositions have long characterized Middle Eastern visual culture.
The Iranian-born artist Salar Ahmadian has embraced both movements, transforming written characters into abstract and expressive patterns and compositions. The vivid and lavish colors he uses give his works a Pop Art-like quality. In addition to his Western influences, it would not be wrong to say that Ahmadian is deeply inspired by Iranian calligraphy.
The art of calligraphy in Iran dates back more than a thousand years. The writing in Ahmadian’s paintings, overlapping and intertwined in an unclear order, transcends its traditional communicative function and becomes an almost formalist subject in a philosophical sense. In this way, it becomes difficult to identify individual letters, and our perception instead focuses on the three-dimensional structure of colors and shapes.
Ahmadian has successfully combined tradition and modernity, East and West. This synthesis of diverse influences has allowed him to create an aesthetic that perfectly resonates with today’s globalized world.
Salar Ahmadian, one of the most prominent artists to emerge from Iran, has also spent parts of his career in Turkey. Standing out for his ability to balance the traditional with the modern, Ahmadian introduced his original works to art lovers in Ankara. Ankara was home to his first exhibition in Turkey. Hosted by CerModern, the exhibition showcased the dance between the historical lines of calligraphy and modern expression. At Güney Kuzey Gallery, a total of 21 of his works were presented to art enthusiasts.
Geometric forms are a dominant feature in Salar Ahmadian’s works. The artist also completes his compositions through the cyclical use of complementary colors. Today, Salar Ahmadian’s works are appreciated worldwide. Beyond his adopted home of Canada, he has a strong following in the United States, Italy, Dubai, Iran, and the United Kingdom. Having recently visited Turkey, Ahmadian received high praise from Turkish art lovers. His works attract great interest not only abroad but also in Turkey, where they are followed with admiration.
Salar Ahmadian’s artistic style can be described through ornamental letters and geometrically structured designs. In a sense, the talented artist’s works reflect traces of the visual culture of the Middle Eastern geography where he was born and raised. At the same time, through his unique and aesthetic expression, he has paved the way for new perspectives and styles. Having lived for many years in Vancouver, Canada, and carrying both cultures within him, Ahmadian has succeeded in reflecting this delicate balance in his paintings.
One of the most distinctive aspects of Salar Ahmadian’s style is his adoption of Iranian calligraphy. In his works inspired by Iranian calligraphy, the use of striking, Western-influenced colors is remarkable. This style brings to mind Pop Art. In his native Iran, the art of calligraphy is known to date back more than a thousand years. It is impossible to see or identify individual letters in Ahmadian’s works—they have long surpassed their traditional functions. In his paintings, human perception focuses more on the three-dimensional forms of colors and objects. The vivid colors, the ornamental quality of calligraphy, and the sharpness of geometric patterns all draw the viewer deeper into the work. The interplay between sharp forms and soft colors evokes a sense of harmony and emotional depth, achieving exactly the kind of engagement the artist intends.
Salar Ahmadian, whose works have been featured in numerous international exhibitions, studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Tehran. After graduating, he received a certificate of proficiency in calligraphy from the Iranian Calligraphers Association. His talents are not limited to painting—he is also a sculptor. Deeply influenced by the striking world of Persian architecture, the artist has successfully carried this admiration into his art. Vibrancy, freedom, and energy are recurring themes in Salar Ahmadian’s works, consistently present throughout his artistic journey.
