Iranian American stitch painter Ardeshir Tabrizi’s new works on show at Roberts Projects reflect his remarkable journey to reconnect with his Persian roots.

Born in Tehran, Iran, he left the county with his family at age four in 1986 during the Iran-Iraq War and immigrated to the U.S. where they settled in Los Angeles. And while his Americanization solidified through his youth, he had an unforgettable dream in his mid-twenties at the start of his art career that ultimately led him years later to his present-day practice.

Ardeshir Tabriz, Sitting Man in Shiraz, (2019). 55 x 43 in, silk thread, cotton floss and pearlescent acrylic ink on canvas. Courtesy of the artist and Roberts Projects.  

Titled “Masjid” (mosque in Arabic), the exhibition is the realization of that dream; the search and discovery of an art practice informed by embroidered narratives and inspired by Persian history and Iran’s modern-day events.

The works are divided into two parts. The ‘paintings’ section is largely inspired by the painted historiography of Iran’s ancient Shahnameh (‘The Book of Kings’ epic poem) and modern-day events. From this and other sources, he borrowed images of storied characters, symbols, historical artifacts, and Persian tapestries owned by his large family, while also infusing personal memories.

Ardeshir Tabrizi, Two Lovers Entwined c. 1610-1620,(2019). 57 x 45 in, silk thread, cotton floss and pearlescent acrylic ink on canvas. Courtesy of the artist and Roberts Projects.

Rendered on canvas, the works are a combination of embroidered silk threads stitched by hand and machine using a digital file, along with painted layers of pearlescent acrylic ink. It is labor-intensive work and one canvas can take over a month to finish.

The ‘drawings’ section is also visually enticing with historic, narrative-like renderings of kings, a demon, lovers, a fallen angel and more. Here, he has used pages torn from the Koran that are collaged together and blackened as a base for graphite pencil and hand-stitched embroidery thread.

Ardeshir Tabrizi, The Weight (2019). 26 x 19 in, embroidery thread, gouache and graphite on printed paper. Courtesy of the artist and Roberts Projects.

Tabrizi is quick to explain that his works have evolved intuitively with no political bias or intended statement. The process has been, instead, his search for understanding Iran’s place in the world historically and in modern times. Now, with more understanding gained he is clinging less to his American identity and feeling some sense of completeness in his dual nationality.

Ultimately, he hopes this new body of work will help to create connections between people. Perhaps even nations.

Ardeshir Tabrizi, “Masjid”
October 19 – November 16, 2019, at Roberts Projects
5801 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
http://robertsprojectsla.com