EXPO CHICAGO 2025

SARAI Gallery is thrilled to return to EXPO CHICAGO for the third consecutive year, presenting a thought-provoking exhibition titled “In the Man Territory”. This year, the gallery will feature compelling works by Iranian artist Ali Zakeri (b. 1959) and Iranian-American artist Morteza Khakshoor (b. 1984). EXPO CHICAGO 2025 will be on view from April 24–27, 2025, at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall in Chicago, US.
These two artists, through their compelling works, examine the complexities of the human experience, focusing on the themes of masculinity, identity, and personal struggle. Their pieces offer profound insight into the raw, multifaceted nature of male identity, using striking visual language to capture the emotional depth and vulnerability
inherent in the male experience. Each work speaks to the nuanced realities of what it means to be male, offering both personal reflection and universal resonance.
Ali Zakeri, who witnessed the tumultuous Iranian Revolution (1979) and served as a soldier during the Iran–Iraq War, captures the intense, raw energy of conflict. His depictions of twisted, merging, and crushed faces and bodies of boxers, endlessly battling on the earth, convey the brutality and persistence of struggle. The men in these artworks are trapped in a world where violence is not merely an act but an inherent part of their identity, creating a brutal, insular realm defined by aggression and unrelenting force.
Morteza Khakshoor, on the other hand, explores the intricate layers of masculinity, blending themes of the male body, sexuality, and violence. His emotionally charged compositions challenge traditional notions of identity, inviting viewers to reconsider the complexities of manhood. Khakshoor’s works expose both the vulnerabilities and strengths of the male form, blurring the lines between power and weakness. His psychologically intense approach opens a dialogue about the contradictory forces that define the male experience, offering a poignant reflection on the internal complexities of masculinity.
Together, Zakeri and Khakshoor offer a nuanced and evocative examination of the male experience, urging viewers to reconsider identity and the societal forces that shape it.