Behrooz Valiani

Artist information

Behrooz Valiani is a contemporary Iranian artist whose work quietly explores the tension between presence and absence, solidity and mystery. Based in Isfahan, Iran, Valiani is celebrated for his minimalist compositions and emotionally evocative imagery—most notably his dreamlike depictions of solitary women and boats.

Valiani’s figurative paintings often feature veiled or anonymous female figures suspended in atmospheres of quietude. These subjects—obscured by clouds, fabric, or mist—are painted with remarkable restraint. Their presence is felt more than stated, and their silence becomes a powerful form of expression. Through minimal color palettes and delicate brushwork, Valiani evokes vulnerability, introspection, and identity without overt symbolism.

In contrast, yet complementary, are his boat paintings, which carry the same emotional depth and visual clarity. These boats sometimes adrift in still waters, other times docked against vast, open backgrounds serve as metaphors for isolation, transition, and passage. Like his women, the boats are often alone, but never lost. They feel patient, anchored in their own solitude.

Both series—figures and boats—reflect Valiani’s deep sensitivity to composition, balance, and metaphor. The emptiness around his subjects is never void, but rather filled with possibility and stillness. Influenced by Persian visual tradition and poetic philosophy, his paintings carry a quiet rhythm that invites reflection and pause.

Behrooz Valiani’s work transcends language and geography. With his disciplined minimalism and lyrical approach to space, he creates powerful visual meditations on identity, memory, and the sacredness of stillness. His paintings are held in private collections internationally and continue to be featured in galleries seeking to showcase contemplative, timeless contemporary art.