Tehran Auction rakes in over $2.1mn, sets new sales record
The 23rd Tehran Auction closed Thursday night with total sales topping $2.1 million, marking a record-breaking moment for Iran’s premier art market, organizers announced after the event at the Parsian Azadi Hotel.
Collectors packed the ballroom as 100 works of Iranian modern and contemporary art went under the hammer. The final tally came to just over $2.1 million — the highest gross in the event’s history. Ninety-seven lots were sold by the end of the night, IRNA reported.
The top-selling piece was ‘Organs’ by Hossein Zenderoudi, which sold for about $172,900. The intricate canvas, blending calligraphy and geometry, led a strong showing for modern masters.
Zenderoudi, known internationally for his bold graphic style, was also named the most valuable artist of the auction.
Sculptor Sahand Hesamiyan, part of a younger wave of contemporary artists, made a strong statement with ‘Hidden Side’, which sold for nearly $122,300. That placed third overall, behind an untitled bronze work by Masoud Arabshahi, which brought in roughly $141,000.
The sale opened with a tribute from auctioneer Shahriar Rabani, who honored four Iranian visual artists who passed away this year, including Parvaneh Etemadi and Kamran Katouzian.
Rabani described the evening as both “a celebration and a farewell,” acknowledging the role of past generations while showcasing new voices.
“This year’s lineup leaned younger,” said one curator at the event. While past editions often centered around giants like Sohrab Sepehri and Bahman Mohasses, this edition shifted focus to emerging names and underrepresented figures. Still, classic artists such as Manoucher Yektai, Parviz Tanavoli, Monir Farmanfarmaian, and Aydin Aghdashloo drew significant bids.
Farmanfarmaian’s ‘Mirror Ball’, a luminous geometric sculpture, sold for $95,800. An untitled piece by Kourosh Shishegaran followed closely at $90,400.
In total, 40 works crossed roughly $12,000 at current exchange rates. Three pieces failed to sell.
The auction’s final sales figure includes a 10% buyer’s premium on all successful bids.
Founded in 2012, Tehran Auction has grown into the most visible and influential art marketplace in Iran.