Golestaneh was born in 1940 in Tehran and held a bachelor's degree in painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts. In high school, at Jam-e Gholhak, he was classmates with Aydin Aghdashloo and Abbas Kiarostami. Ali Golestaneh (Mohammad Golestani) learned painting from Ali-Asghar Petgar. In 1959, he entered the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran and graduated in 1972 with a degree in art. From 1969 to 1977, Golestaneh lived in England, where he studied independently at the London School of Printing, affiliated with the University of London. He later worked as a designer and painter for the magazine of the Royal Automobile Club of England.

 

His first exhibition of colored pencil works was held in 1976 at the Shahr Gallery in Tehran. In 1979, he moved to Spain and held two exhibitions in Madrid in 1984 and 1986, and another in Santa Eulalia, Ibiza, in 1981. Golestaneh returned to Iran in 1987 and remained there, holding several solo exhibitions at Golestan, Etemad, Hor, Emkan, and Maryam Fasihi Harandi galleries.

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Natural landscapes were among the most beloved subjects in his work, and Golestaneh painted various landscapes over the years. His focus on landscapes made him a popular figure in Iranian art.

 

Characteristics of His Work

Ali Golestaneh was a prolific painter whose works displayed diversity in both technique and content. His nature-themed artworks gained significant acclaim. Moving from abstraction to realism, he created a unique world that differed from our conventional perceptions of the surrounding world. Golestaneh’s work challenged the concept of style, crossing the boundaries of impressionism, representationalism, and symbolism without being confined to any one approach. A significant feature of Golestaneh's work, especially in his landscapes, was his ability to portray different climates and atmospheres. In his depictions of Yazd, for example, one can feel the warmth and dryness of the climate and the intense sunlight. Similarly, in his Spanish landscapes, the viewer can sense the mild Mediterranean climate.

Portraits and human figures were also central to Ali Golestaneh's work. He created portraits of friends and acquaintances, including Forough Farrokhzad (poet), Leili Golestan (gallery owner), Parviz Maleki (gallery owner), Zoya Pirzad (writer), Mostafa Dashti (painter), Simin Behbahani (poet), Zhila Ipakchi (editor), Mohammad Moghadam (linguist), Nader Shah Afshar, and others, showing a different dimension of his work.

 

Passing

Ali Golestaneh, the painter, passed away on the morning of Wednesday, October 6th 2021, due to complications from COVID-19.

 

1956–1969 Lived and worked in London, UK

1972 M.F.A. in painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran

1980–1987 Lived and worked in Ibiza, Spain

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Exhibitions

2018- 453: 32 Visions, Maryam Fasihi Harandi Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2017 Persian Lilac, Maryam Fasihi Harandi Gallery, Tehran, Iran (solo)

2016 PAPER ON, Laleh June Galerie, Basel, Switzerland

2015 What Are You Waiting For, Laleh June Galerie, Basel, Switzerland

2015 Maryam Fasihi Harandi, Kunst Messe Frankfurt 15, Frankfurt, Germany

2015 Maryam Fasihi Harandi, ART.FAIR, Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany

2015 Tehran, Maryam Fasihi Harandi Gallery, Tehran, Iran (solo)

2014 Dubai, Total Arts, Dubai, UAE (solo) 2014

colour pencil drawings on paper 1980-1990, Maryam Fasihi Harandi Gallery, Tehran, Iran (solo)

2014 "Born in Tehran", Laleh June Galerie, Basel, Switzerland

2014 "Paper Works: 10 Artists", curated by Fereydoun Ave, Etemad Gallery, Dubai, UAE

2012 "100 works, 100 artists", Golestan Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2012  Paintings on paper, Maryam Fasihi Harandi Gallery, Tehran 2010 paintings, Etemad Gallery, Tehran, Iran (solo)

2011 Group exhibition, Mah Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2011 The open window", Sareban Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2011 Group show, Maryam Fasihi Harandi Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2008 Paintings, Mekic Art Gallery (Maison d'Edition Ketabe Iran Canada), Montreal, Canada (solo)

2007 Paintings, Hoor Gallery, Tehran, Iran (solo)

2007 Paintings, Homa Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran (solo)

2006 Paintings, Se-Nik Gallery, Yazd, Iran (solo)