Tehran Auction wraps up with over $123m in sales
The 18th edition of Tehran Auction, a prominent event showcasing contemporary Iranian art, concluded on December 15 with an online sale totaling $123,552,000.
This edition of Tehran Auction marked a departure from its traditional format, combining the contemporary and modern art auctions into a single online event, IRNA reported.
This year, 55% of the participating young artists presented their works in the Iranian art market for the first time, achieving admirable sales.
One distinctive feature of this auction was the significant presence of female artists, with 41 women showcasing their artworks during the event, contributing to the diverse range of offerings. Renowned figures in Iranian art, such as Parviz Tanavoli, Aydin Aghdashloo, Mohammad Ehsaei, Masoud Arabshahi, Parviz Kalantari, and Parvaneh Etemadi, also participated, presenting contemporary art pieces alongside emerging talents.
In contrast to previous years, the Tehran Auction introduced an online auction to bridge the gap between separate contemporary and modern art events held in the summer and winter.
During this auction, out of 114 artworks, 112 works were successfully sold, with 33 pieces exceeding the maximum bid range. Most of these successful bidders were emerging artists making their mark in the Iranian art market.
A total of 79 artworks were sold within the bid range, and 13 pieces fetched thousands of dollars. The four-day event, held at Agora Complex and online simultaneously, showcased 88 paintings, 16 sculptures, six photographs, and four calligraphy pieces.
Overall, the 18th edition of the Tehran Auction witnessed the sale of 13 artworks with prices exceeding $20,000.
Despite the diverse range of artists and genres, the highest demand and price growth were observed for works by emerging artists in the art market.
The highest-priced item in the auction was a piece by Parviz Tanavoli, titled ‘Farangi (Foreign) Woman on Persian Carpet II,’ which sold for $110,000. This distinctive work by the veteran sculptor and painter, blending Iranian carpet art with contemporary pop art, marked this artwork’s first appearance in the art market.
Following closely, ‘Enigma 92’ by Aydin Aghdashloo and an untitled painting by Masoud Arabshahi secured the second and third positions, selling for $92,400 and $83,600, respectively.
Among other notable sales were two artworks by different generations of Iranian contemporary artists: an untitled painting by the late Parviz Kalantari and a piece from the ‘Ancient Arts Alchemy’ collection by Shahriar Ahmadi, both purchased for $68,200.
In the fifth position among the auction’s top sellers was a sculpture titled ‘Pion’ by Timo Nasseri, fetching $44,000.