In 2025, SARAI Gallery strengthened its position as a leading platform for contemporary Iranian art, presenting a vibrant program of exhibitions in Tehran while expanding its presence on international stages. The year reflected the gallery's dual commitment to nurturing emerging talent and engaging with a global audience. Central to this vision were the KHOR 2025 Artists' Exhibition and Prelude to Resonance, the latter hosted at the Escondido Museum in collaboration with Parisa Projects, where selected artists from previous KHOR editions were presented, emphasizing intergenerational dialogue and the continuity of artistic exploration.
[Exhibitions]
The gallery's exhibition program in Tehran offered a diverse range of projects, from solo shows to thematic group presentations. The year began with Walking Through the Darkness - Part 2, where Ali Zakeri expanded his exploration of human vulnerability through his signature boxer figures, captured in a contemplative green palette that highlighted the tension between strength and fragility.
Following this, Prelude to Resonance became the centerpiece of SARAI's curatorial program. Hosted at the Escondido Museum in collaboration with Parisa Projects, this exhibition brought together contemporary Persian artists navigating the intersection of tradition and modernity. Featuring paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works, the show examined themes of heritage, feminism, societal introspection, and environmental consciousness. A unique highlight of the exhibition was the presentation of selected artists from previous KHOR editions, offering a platform to celebrate continuity and mentorship across generations. This innovative approach underscored SARAI Gallery's commitment to fostering emerging talent while bridging past and present artistic voices.
Over the summer, Red Noon by Mehdi Chitsazha invited viewers into urban landscapes suspended between memory and dream, exploring architecture, quiet streets, and the psychological imprint of city life. The Edges, a solo exhibition by Ayda Roozbayani, examined solitude, estrangement, and adaptation within industrial and coastal landscapes, transforming familiar environments into imagined spaces layered with personal and collective memory.
The KHOR 2025 Artists' Exhibition further strengthened SARAI Gallery's mission of supporting emerging Iranian artists. Out of over 400 applicants, 34 artists were shortlisted by an international jury. The exhibition emphasized experimentation, professional rigor, and engagement with contemporary issues, connecting new talent with broader audiences and international opportunities.
Later in the year, Swamp, the solo show by Abbas Nasle Shamloo, explored water and swamp environments as thresholds of memory and transformation, evoking stillness, introspection, and the delicate balance between presence and absence. Finally, Lived Duality, a two-person exhibition by Sadegh Khalife and Ghasem Mohammadi in collaboration with ZAM Art Gallery, juxtaposed industrial and organic landscapes, creating a dialogue between memory, imagination, and the intersection of mechanical and natural forms.
The gallery's exhibition program in Tehran offered a diverse range of projects, from solo shows to thematic group presentations. The year began with Walking Through the Darkness - Part 2, where Ali Zakeri expanded his exploration of human vulnerability through his signature boxer figures, captured in a contemplative green palette that highlighted the tension between strength and fragility.
Following this, Prelude to Resonance became the centerpiece of SARAI's curatorial program. Hosted at the Escondido Museum in collaboration with Parisa Projects, this exhibition brought together contemporary Persian artists navigating the intersection of tradition and modernity. Featuring paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works, the show examined themes of heritage, feminism, societal introspection, and environmental consciousness. A unique highlight of the exhibition was the presentation of selected artists from previous KHOR editions, offering a platform to celebrate continuity and mentorship across generations. This innovative approach underscored SARAI Gallery's commitment to fostering emerging talent while bridging past and present artistic voices.
Over the summer, Red Noon by Mehdi Chitsazha invited viewers into urban landscapes suspended between memory and dream, exploring architecture, quiet streets, and the psychological imprint of city life. The Edges, a solo exhibition by Ayda Roozbayani, examined solitude, estrangement, and adaptation within industrial and coastal landscapes, transforming familiar environments into imagined spaces layered with personal and collective memory.
The KHOR 2025 Artists' Exhibition further strengthened SARAI Gallery's mission of supporting emerging Iranian artists. Out of over 400 applicants, 34 artists were shortlisted by an international jury. The exhibition emphasized experimentation, professional rigor, and engagement with contemporary issues, connecting new talent with broader audiences and international opportunities.
Later in the year, Swamp, the solo show by Abbas Nasle Shamloo, explored water and swamp environments as thresholds of memory and transformation, evoking stillness, introspection, and the delicate balance between presence and absence. Finally, Lived Duality, a two-person exhibition by Sadegh Khalife and Ghasem Mohammadi in collaboration with ZAM Art Gallery, juxtaposed industrial and organic landscapes, creating a dialogue between memory, imagination, and the intersection of mechanical and natural forms.
[Art Fairs]
SARAI Gallery maintained an active international presence in 2025, participating in major art fairs to present Iranian contemporary art to global audiences. The year began with Art Dubai, marking the gallery's fifth consecutive participation, where Morteza Khakshoor, Orkideh Torabi, Abbas Nasle Shamloo, and Azin Zolfaghari presented works that explored masculinity, urbanity, and resilience through diverse visual languages.
In April, SARAI returned to EXPO CHICAGO for the third consecutive year, featuring Ali Zakeri and Morteza Khakshoor. Their works offered profound insight into male identity, reflecting personal struggle, psychological depth, and the impact of historical and social experience.
The gallery's fifth consecutive participation at The Armory Show in New York presented Orkideh Torabi and Morteza Khakshoor at Booth P46 in the Presents Section. Torabi explored masculinity through a female perspective with a playful and incisive critique of societal norms, while Khakshoor examined male vulnerability, combining psychological intensity with figurative precision.
Later in the year, SARAI participated in Abu Dhabi Art for the fifth consecutive time, presenting Moslem Khezri, Abbas Nasle Shamloo, Hossein Mohammadi, and Mehdi Chitsazha in the Special Projects section. Their works reflected memory, identity, and subtle tensions between presence and absence, offering layered perspectives on contemporary life in Iran.
Finally, SARAI collaborated with Parisa Projects at Untitled Art Miami Beach, presenting Farishta Mirza, Ajea Zahid, and Hossein Mohammadi in the Nest Section. This presentation highlighted emerging Middle Eastern and South Asian voices, ranging from intimate figurative explorations to reimagined landscapes.
SARAI Gallery maintained an active international presence in 2025, participating in major art fairs to present Iranian contemporary art to global audiences. The year began with Art Dubai, marking the gallery's fifth consecutive participation, where Morteza Khakshoor, Orkideh Torabi, Abbas Nasle Shamloo, and Azin Zolfaghari presented works that explored masculinity, urbanity, and resilience through diverse visual languages.
In April, SARAI returned to EXPO CHICAGO for the third consecutive year, featuring Ali Zakeri and Morteza Khakshoor. Their works offered profound insight into male identity, reflecting personal struggle, psychological depth, and the impact of historical and social experience.
The gallery's fifth consecutive participation at The Armory Show in New York presented Orkideh Torabi and Morteza Khakshoor at Booth P46 in the Presents Section. Torabi explored masculinity through a female perspective with a playful and incisive critique of societal norms, while Khakshoor examined male vulnerability, combining psychological intensity with figurative precision.
Later in the year, SARAI participated in Abu Dhabi Art for the fifth consecutive time, presenting Moslem Khezri, Abbas Nasle Shamloo, Hossein Mohammadi, and Mehdi Chitsazha in the Special Projects section. Their works reflected memory, identity, and subtle tensions between presence and absence, offering layered perspectives on contemporary life in Iran.
Finally, SARAI collaborated with Parisa Projects at Untitled Art Miami Beach, presenting Farishta Mirza, Ajea Zahid, and Hossein Mohammadi in the Nest Section. This presentation highlighted emerging Middle Eastern and South Asian voices, ranging from intimate figurative explorations to reimagined landscapes.
Reflecting on the achievements of 2025, we are filled with gratitude for the opportunities, collaborations, and support that have enriched our journey. We look forward to the exciting prospects that 2026 will bring, as we continue to share the voices of Middle Eastern artists with the world. Thank you to our artists, partners, and audience for being an integral part of this ongoing journey.
December 17, 2025
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