Khosrow Hassanzadeh

Khosrow Hassanzadeh was a renowned Iranian painter who used pop art techniques to explore the social and political issues of his country. He was born in Tehran in 1963 to a working-class Azerbaijani family who ran a fruit shop. He joined the Basiji militia at the age of 17 and fought in the Iran-Iraq war. After the war, he studied painting at the Mojtama-e-Honar University and Persian literature at the Azad University. He was also mentored by the famous Iranian artist Aydeen Aghdashlou.
Hassanzadeh's work was influenced by his experiences of war, religion, and urban life. He used silkscreen prints, mixed media, and ceramics to create large-scale portraits of people and scenes that reflected the Iranian culture and history. Some of his notable series include War (1998), Ashura (2000), Chador (2001), Prostitutes (2002), and Terrorist (2004). He often used bright colors, patterns, and texts to create a contrast between the serious and the playful, the sacred and the profane, the traditional and the modern.
Hassanzadeh exhibited his work in many national and international venues, such as the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, the British Museum, the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, and the Nathalie Obadia gallery in Brussels. He received several awards and recognitions, such as the UNESCO Prize for the Promotion of the Arts in 2001 and the Grand Prize of the 6th Sharjah Biennial in 2003.
Hassanzadeh died in 2023 at the age of 59 from alcohol poisoning after consuming bootleg arak. He was mourned by his family, friends, and fans as a talented and courageous artist who challenged the stereotypes and prejudices about Iran and its people. He left behind a rich and diverse legacy of artworks that celebrate the Iranian identity and culture.