Iranian children shine at painting exhibition in Bulgaria
Ten young Iranian artists from the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults won top honors at the 27th International Painting Exhibition “Nava Zagora” 2025 in Bulgaria, the institute’s public relations office said on Wednesday.
Nine-year-old Selen Arami from Ahvaz, in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan Province, clinched the “Sun of Nova Zagora” medal and an honorary diploma at the annual international showcase.
Nine other Iranian children and teenagers also secured honorary diplomas, showing the country’s growing footprint in global youth arts competitions.
The winners included 15-year-old Kimia Mousavi from Tabriz in East Azarbaijan Province; 15-year-old Hadis Salimi from Ardabil; 7-year-old Karen Mohammadi from Isfahan; 11-year-old Aylin Chengovayi from Behbahan in Khuzestan Province; 11-year-old Aria Bahadori from Safashahr in Fars Province; 14-year-old Atena Amirian and 14-year-old Matina Khateri from Kermanshah; 15-year-old Mahdia Badi’ from Gonbad-e Kavus in Golestan Province; and 9-year-old Mohammad Hossein Hemmati from Yazd.
The Iranian institute submitted 15 artworks to the 2025 edition of the Nova Zagora exhibition, with two-thirds of them earning recognition.