Remembering Khosrow Hassanzadeh: art, life, friendship

The untimely death of artist Khosrow Hassanzadeh in July 2023, has created shockwaves within the Iranian art community and for his many friends and admirers around the world.

A veteran of the Iran-Iraq war, Khosrow created works which spoke of the Iran that he grew up in and which surrounded him. Collected by major public and private institutions worldwide, his bold dramatic works from silkscreen prints to ceramics had a language bordering on the kitsch and addressed topics such as terrorism and prostitution. Among his favourite subjects were pahlavan (traditional wrestlers), including the hero Takhti (d. 1968), acquired by the British Museum, and the centrepiece of an exhibition, Takhti: A Modern Iranian Hero, in 2009.

This event celebrates the life and art of this remarkable artist, through talks, films and music. Speakers will include curator Rose Issa, journalist Maziar Bahari and Shahrzad Afrashteh. Friends and family will contribute their recollections in a specially made recording from Tehran.

Introduced by former British Museum curator Venetia Porter and with concluding remarks by curator and writer Vali Mahlouji. This event will be followed by a reception.

A detailed programme will be available soon.

Attend this event

• Book now to secure your place in the BP Lecture Theatre.
• In line with current government and NHS guidance, face masks are not mandatory but guests are welcome to wear them if they wish.