Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar Iranian-French, b. 1984
Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar (b. 1984) is a Franco-Iranian contemporary artist whose practice operates between Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France, and Doha, Qatar. Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, he spent his formative youth and early adulthood living in Tehran, Iran, a dual heritage that heavily informs his perspective.
Central to his artistic identity is his signature peinture raclée technique, a meticulous process involving the intricate scraping, layering, and spreading of multiple pigment blends over the canvas. This stylistic approach is strictly paired with a commitment to ecological sustainability. Behnam-Bakhtiar predominantly utilizes natural and recycled pigments derived from minerals and stones to create his works, while ensuring the wood and linen used for his structural chassis are sustainably sourced and treated.
Behnam-Bakhtiar’s work gained widespread international recognition over a decade ago. In 2018, his unique methodology was introduced to a global audience during his solo exhibition, Oneness Wholeness, at London’s Saatchi Gallery. This was closely followed by a solo show at the historic Villa Santo Sospir in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. His institutional presence expanded in 2021 when he became the only living artist to hold a solo exhibition—entitled Garden of The Soul—at Villa Nara Mondadori, a landmark property designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer. Several works from this exhibition were permanently acquired for the estate's private collection.
The artist’s career has frequently intersected with high-profile philanthropic and cultural partnerships. In September 2022, he presented the solo exhibition The Journey Within at Sotheby’s Monaco. The event featured a live collaborative performance with musician Tinie Tempah, during which Behnam-Bakhtiar created a painting that was instantly auctioned to benefit the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
His momentum continued into 2023 with two major institutional milestones. He was selected for a prominent solo exhibition, The Age of Energy, at the Phillips headquarters in Berkeley Square, London. Later that year, he entered into an exclusive partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The foundation hosted his solo exhibition, Ocean, within its historic Villa Girasole headquarters in Monaco, marking the first time the environmental organization has ever dedicated its headquarters to a solo artist exhibition.