A new Istanbul gallery is offering an outlet for Iran’s artists

Shiva Zahed Gallery, a new space dedicated to Iranian contemporary art, opened on 28 February in Istanbul’s Pera district to provide a rare physical platform for artists affected by sanctions, shipping barriers, and travel restrictions. The gallery’s launch coincided with the start of a US-Israeli war with Iran the same day, adding uncertainty to its mission of connecting Tehran to the international art world. Its inaugural exhibition, Echoes, pairs installation artist Shaqayeq Arabi with veteran artist Fereydoun Ave, whose work is held by institutions including the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Founder Shiva Zahed, a medical doctor trained at Shahid Beheshti University, said the gallery’s original plan to open on 28 January with 20 emerging artists collapsed after late-December protests and a communications blackout left her unable to reach participants.

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