Reza Abedini
Reza Abedini | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1967 Tehran, Iran |
| Occupation(s) | Graphic designer, visual artist, professor |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Known for | Graphic design integrating Iranian cultural elements, calligraphy, and typography |
| Notable work | Reza Abedini Studio; exhibitions including Crisis of History at Framer Framed (2014) |
Reza Abedini (born 1967) is an Iranian graphic designer and visual artist originating from Tehran. Between 1985 and 1990, he pursued studies in design and visual arts at the School of Fine Arts and the Art University of Tehran. Beginning his professional career in 1989, Abedini established Reza Abedini Studio in 1993. His creative approach fuses artistic expression with design, prominently featuring Iranian cultural elements through the use of calligraphy and typography, with the Persian language serving as both an artistic and conceptual medium. In 2014, he took part in the exhibition Crisis of History at Framer Framed, curated by Robert Kluijver.
Early life
Currently residing in the Netherlands, Abedini integrates classical Persian motifs with modernist design principles to create contemporary graphic works. His portfolio includes cultural posters and branding projects that have earned global acclaim for their inventive application of calligraphic and typographic techniques. His art has been displayed internationally, including notable venues such as the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and the Stedelijk Museum.
Design
Abedini draws inspiration from figures like Aleksander Rodchenko, Ikko Tanaka, Sani'ol Molk Ghafari, Roman Cieslewicz, and Mirza Gholam-Reza Esfahani.
He has been honored with multiple prestigious awards both domestically and abroad. Among these is the Principal Prince Claus Award in 2006, which recognized his innovative graphic design work that reinterprets Iran’s rich artistic traditions while emphasizing its cultural plurality and global dialogue.
Since 1997, he has been affiliated with the Iranian Graphic Designers Society and has participated as a jury member at various international biennials. His contributions to post-digital graphic design are acknowledged in Philip B. Meggs' History of Graphic Design.
Academic career
Abedini has held a professorship in graphic design and visual culture at the University of Tehran since 1996. Additionally, he served as a visiting assistant professor at the American University of Beirut.
Honors and awards
- 1993, 1994, 1996 – First Prize for best film poster at the Fajr International Film Festival, Iran
- 1994 – Special Award from Film Critics for best film poster, Iran
- 1996 – Special Award from IRIB for best film poster, Iran
- 1999 – Third Prize for poster at the 6th Biennial of Iranian Graphic Designers, Iran
- 1999 – Creativity Award from Iranian Graphic Designers Society, Iran
- 2003 – Special Prize at China International Poster Biennale, China
- 2004 – Award from the Union of Visual Artists of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
- 2004 – Second Prize at the 15th Festival d'affiches de Chaumont, France
- 2004 – Gold Prize at Hong Kong International Poster Triennial
- 2004 – First Prize and gold medal at the 8th International Biennial of the Poster, Mexico
- 2004 – Silver Prize at the Second International Poster Biennale, Korea
- 2004 – First Prize at the First International Biennale of the Islamic World Poster, Iran
- 2005 – Bronze Medal at the 2nd China International Poster Biennial CIPB, China
- 2005 – First Prize at the 9th Press Festival of Children & Young Adults, Iran
- 2006 – Principal Prize awarded by the Prince Claus Award, Netherlands
Bibliography
- Reza Abedini (Vision of Design), Jianping He (ISBN 978-981-245-502-4)
- Reza Abedini (design & designer), Alain le Quernec (ISBN 978-2-910565-86-2)
- New Visual Culture of Modern Iran, Reza Abedini and Hans Wolbers (ISBN 978-90-6369-097-7)
- Iran. Gnomi e giganti, paradossi e malintesi, Reza Abedini and Ebrahim Nabavi (ISBN 978-88-7770-846-5)
See also
Additional Iranian recipients of the Prince Claus Award