Dastan Gallery
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Artists
  • Exhibitions
  • News
  • Publications
  • Video
  • Contact

Solo Presentation of Works by Bijan Saffari: Frieze Art Fair New York 2019

Past exhibition
3 - 5 May 2019 Art Fairs
  • Overview
  • Works
  • Installation Views
  • News
  • Press release
Overview
Solo Presentation of Works by Bijan Saffari, Frieze Art Fair New York 2019

More than fifty portraits by Iranian artist, architect, and artistic director Bijan Saffari

Download Press Release
Works
  • Bijan Saffari, Untitled
    Bijan Saffari, Untitled
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Untitled
    Acrylic on Canvas
    48 x 40 cm
    18 7/8 x 15 3/4 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Abbass Zahedi, 1971
    Bijan Saffari, Abbass Zahedi, 1971
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Abbass Zahedi, 1971
    Metal-Tip Pen on Paper
    21 x 29 cm
    8 1/4 x 11 3/8 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Fereydoun Ave, 1985
    Bijan Saffari, Fereydoun Ave, 1985
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Fereydoun Ave, 1985
    Metal-Tip Pen on Paper
    40 x 30 cm
    15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Majid Mozaffari, 1976
    Bijan Saffari, Majid Mozaffari, 1976
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Majid Mozaffari, 1976
    Color Pencil on Paper
    73 x 63 cm
    28 3/4 x 24 3/4 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Portrait of Ghasem Hajizadeh
    Bijan Saffari, Portrait of Ghasem Hajizadeh
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Portrait of Ghasem Hajizadeh
    Metal-Tip Pen on Paper
    20.5 x 29 cm
    8 1/8 x 11 3/8 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Mamal Katouzian, 1990
    Bijan Saffari, Mamal Katouzian, 1990
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Mamal Katouzian, 1990
    Color Pencil on Paper
    46 x 38 cm
    18 1/8 x 15 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Fereydoun Ave, 1992
    Bijan Saffari, Fereydoun Ave, 1992
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Fereydoun Ave, 1992
    Color Pencil on Paper
    36 x 27 cm
    14 1/8 x 10 5/8 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Fereydoun Ave
    Bijan Saffari, Fereydoun Ave
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Fereydoun Ave
    Pastel and Pencil on Paper
    53 x 63 cm
    20 7/8 x 24 3/4 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Davoud Haddad, 2002
    Bijan Saffari, Davoud Haddad, 2002
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Davoud Haddad, 2002
    Acrylic on Canvas
    27 x 22 cm
    10 5/8 x 8 5/8 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Davoud Haddad, 2002
    Bijan Saffari, Davoud Haddad, 2002
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Davoud Haddad, 2002
    Acrylic on Canvas
    27 x 22 cm
    10 5/8 x 8 5/8 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Davoud Haddad, 2002
    Bijan Saffari, Davoud Haddad, 2002
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Davoud Haddad, 2002
    Acrylic on Canvas
    27 x 22 cm
    10 5/8 x 8 5/8 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Davoud Haddad, 2002
    Bijan Saffari, Davoud Haddad, 2002
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Davoud Haddad, 2002
    Acrylic on Canvas
    27 x 22 cm
    10 5/8 x 8 5/8 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Davoud Haddad, 2002
    Bijan Saffari, Davoud Haddad, 2002
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Davoud Haddad, 2002
    Acrylic on Canvas
    27 x 22 cm
    10 5/8 x 8 5/8 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Sina Sadegh & Fereydoun Ave
    Bijan Saffari, Sina Sadegh & Fereydoun Ave
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Sina Sadegh & Fereydoun Ave
    Ink on Paper
    15 x 24 cm
    5 7/8 x 9 1/2 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Ashurbanipal Babilla, 1981
    Bijan Saffari, Ashurbanipal Babilla, 1981
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Ashurbanipal Babilla, 1981
    Pencil on Paper
    46 x 38 cm
    18 1/8 x 15 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Self-Portrait, 1991
    Bijan Saffari, Self-Portrait, 1991
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Self-Portrait, 1991
    Pencil on Paper
    46 x 38 cm
    18 1/8 x 15 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Fereydoun Ave
    Bijan Saffari, Fereydoun Ave
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Fereydoun Ave
    Metal-Tip Pen on Paper
    30 x 20 cm
    11 3/4 x 7 7/8 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Abol Saeedi, 1981
    Bijan Saffari, Abol Saeedi, 1981
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Abol Saeedi, 1981
    Metal-Tip Pen on Paper
    23 x 33 cm
    9 1/8 x 13 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Azar, 1976
    Bijan Saffari, Azar, 1976
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Azar, 1976
    Pencil on Paper
    24 x 32 cm
    9 1/2 x 12 5/8 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Ashurbanipal Babilla, 1980
    Bijan Saffari, Ashurbanipal Babilla, 1980
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Ashurbanipal Babilla, 1980
    Color Pencil on Paper
    46 x 38 cm
    18 1/8 x 15 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Self-Portrait, 1981
    Bijan Saffari, Self-Portrait, 1981
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Self-Portrait, 1981
    Watercolor on Paper
    32 x 25 cm
    12 5/8 x 9 7/8 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Farrokh Mohseni, 1982
    Bijan Saffari, Farrokh Mohseni, 1982
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Farrokh Mohseni, 1982
    Pencil on Paper
    36 x 48 cm
    14 1/8 x 18 7/8 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Self-Portrait, 1980
    Bijan Saffari, Self-Portrait, 1980
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Self-Portrait, 1980
    Watercolor on Paper
    45.5 x 32 cm
    17 7/8 x 12 5/8 in
  • Bijan Saffari, Untitled, 1981
    Bijan Saffari, Untitled, 1981
    View Detail Page
    Bijan Saffari
    Untitled, 1981
    Color Pencil on Paper
    45.5 x 36.5 cm
    17 7/8 x 14 3/8 in
Installation Views
  • 2019 Bijan Saffari Frieze Nyc Installation View Lowres 06 Dscf0128
  • 2019 Bijan Saffari Frieze Nyc Installation View Lowres 03 Dscf0122
  • 2019 Bijan Saffari Frieze Nyc Installation View Lowres 04 Dscf0123
  • 2019 Bijan Saffari Frieze Nyc Installation View Lowres 10 Dscf0135
  • 2019 Bijan Saffari Frieze Nyc Installation View Lowres 07 Dscf0132
  • 2019 Bijan Saffari Frieze Nyc Installation View Lowres 08 Dscf0133
  • 2019 Bijan Saffari Frieze Nyc Installation View Lowres 01 Dscf0117
  • 2019 Bijan Saffari Frieze Nyc Installation View Lowres 02 Dscf0118
News
  • Iranian Gallerist among Successful International Gallerists

    Iranian Gallerist among Successful International Gallerists

    Honaronline Read more
  • Frieze New York 2019

    Frieze New York 2019

    studio international Read more
  • Artvisor’s Frieze New York 2019 Highlights

    Artvisor’s Frieze New York 2019 Highlights

    artvisor Read more
  • Roundup from Frieze New York 2019

    Roundup from Frieze New York 2019

    artasiapacific Read more
  • Drawing Center Director Laura Hoptman on 7 Overlooked Artists Worthy of Discovery at Frieze New York

    Drawing Center Director Laura Hoptman on 7 Overlooked Artists Worthy of Discovery at Frieze New York

    artnet Read more
  • At Frieze New York, Islands of Daring

    At Frieze New York, Islands of Daring

    The New York Times Read more
  • Jean-Claude Carrière's Eulogy for Bijan Saffari

    Jean-Claude Carrière's Eulogy for Bijan Saffari

    Paris, April 29, 2019 Read more
Press release

For Frieze Art Fair New York 2019, at Booth S5 (Spotlight Section), Dastan’s Basement will present a series of portraits by renown Iranian artist, architect and artistic director Bijan Saffari (1933-2019). The presentation brings together more than fifty portraits created over the years by Saffari’s masterful hand.
Born in Tehran in 1933, Bijan Saffari left Iran for higher education studies in Switzerland and France, notably at the Beaux-Arts and École Spéciale d'Architecture (ESA). He returned to Tehran in 1959, initially working as an artist and architect. Mr. Saffari was one of the foremost university instructors in interior design and architecture in Iran. He co-founded and taught at the Faculty of Decorative Arts (now part of Tehran University of Art). During the time when he lived in Iran, he also founded his own architecture and design firm.
Mr. Saffari gradually became involved in larger programs. As a major influencer while living in Iran, he played a major role in the cultural scene. He was soon appointed as the director of Kargah-e Namayesh, the first Iranian experimental theatre company. He also worked as a board member at Farah Pahlavi Foundation, and a board member and the director of the theater program at Shiraz Festival of Arts.
Like many artists who lived through 1979, Mr. Saffari’s life and work can be split to two parts: As prolific as he was before the Iranian revolution of 1979, he became reclusive and lived a quiet life since then in Paris, until he passed away in 2019. After 1979, all of the cultural programs led by him suddenly ceased to exist.
While his larger endeavors came to a halt after the revolution, Mr. Saffari who was most essentially a masterful drawing artist and sculptor, never stopped making art. Nonchalant and making out to be oblivious to the presence of any observers, his works were based on people and objects close to him. They work like Proust’s review of memories and potentials, playing around involuntary memory when cues encountered in everyday life evoke recollections of the past without conscious effort.
The portraits on display at the booth of Dastan’s Basement at Frieze Art Fair New York 2019 depict some of the people close to Mr. Saffari through the years. Since the early days of his work as an artist Mr. Saffari developed the habit to gift such portraits to the people he used as models. The current works on display are some of such pieces gathered from a number of distinct collections.
The booth has been designed by Iranian artist, designer, curator, and artistic director Fereydoun Ave whose friendship with Mr. Saffari dates back to 1960s when he joined the team at Kargah-e Namayesh to work as a designer.

Download press release
Back to exhibitions
Copyright © 2021 Dastan Gallery
Sign Up to Dastan's Mailing List
Facebook, opens in a new tab.
Instagram, opens in a new tab.
Join the mailing list
Send an email