BANISADR Niloufar (Iran)
Born in Teheran in 1973, Niloufar Banisadr now lives and works in Paris. She defines her creation as conceptual, narrative, contrasting, harmonious and aesthetic.
The Iranian photographer has been engaging in self-portrait for 20 years. It all started when her student works came under harsh censorship, putting her family at risk. She then pledged herself that she would never leave anyone vulnerable ever again because of her art. In her very first serials, it became clear that she would commit to a certain idea of freedom and bravery in Art as well as to a daily modesty, far from her golden Banisadr ancestry. Ever since, she has proved how commercial success could be found in Art without sacrificing her most inner convictions. Her art is genuinely political, wise and colourful while carrying sensual and universal dimensions, all of which helped her establishing a name for herself. Since the late 1990s, Niloufar presents a new serial of photographies quite every 2 years, sourcing inspiration from her Persian roots, her woman condition and a raging wanderlust.
Through her works (Mes Voyages & Dieu et Mon Droit), Niloufar has always illustrated the clash of civilizations since she settled in France 15 years ago. Most importantly, she is a living example that art catalyses any possibility, letting anything happen. Indeed, her art mixes cultures and religions, contemporary and historical figures, wonders of nature and Man’s creation... Each photo is a multi-layer emotional synthesis and could be the subject for academic material or news articles. Beyond an effective and direct simplicity, her pictures are an ever-lasting source of questions about our inner contradictions and the place of religion in our life while underlining the chaotic news ouput resulting from new media and technologies.
As Niloufar constantly toys with appearances and manipulations, her eyes on photographs convey a powerful emotion as they seem to shift appearances. Niloufar has been playing with figurative and abstract byways to avoid simplicity or « populism » in her more political works. In these two series the artist’s eyes are looking directly in ours: she speaks for herslef. On the flipside, the few pictures where she turns her back bear a collective message.
Niloufar Banisadr's creation has been widely noticed and written about. It had been portrayed in primary school and universities as an example of freedom in Art and belongs to some of the most notable private collections and museums all around the world. Her art is gradually collecting fame thanks to its meaning, foresight and destiny. Its impacting and subtle narration are at the very roots of Niloufar’s success: she carries a universal testimony, providing a ubiquitous and sacred sense of timelessness. While it sometimes prompts controversy and debate, Niloufar’s works also invite us on a universal, dream-like journey. Gaze deeply into her eyes, look at her body attitude, face the curtains of her bedroom, enjoy « Mes Voyages » serial, discover « Chose en soi » (the movieà. These are the required steps that you will need to understand the purpose and meaning of 55Bellechasse as well as our commitment to support and develop so many international artists. While new projects often come to life within our walls, Niloufar Banisadr's work will always be at the core of 55Bellechasse’s DNA – Paris7
2- EDUCATION
2011 Photoshop training, Ecole Gobelins (Paris, France)
2004 - 2006 Master’s Degree in Visual Arts, Marc Bloch University, (Strasbourg, France)
2004 - 2005 Diploma in Professional Photography - Spéos Paris Photographic Institute (Paris, France)
2002 - 2003 Bachelor’s Degree in Cinema and Audio-Visual Arts, Marc Bloch University (Strasbourg, France)
1995 - 2001 Bachelor’s Degree in Photography, Azad University (Teheran, Iran)
3- PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Since 2013 Permanent artist, 55Bellechasse Gallery (Paris, France)
2013 Associate, Art Director, 55Bellechasse Gallery (Paris, France)
2007-2012 Teaching at Spéos – Spéos Paris Photographic Institute, part-time (Paris, France)
2007-2012 Teaching at „RISD“ - Rhode Island School of Design – for Spéos, Winter Session (Providence, USA)
2010 Speaker at "Wocmes" - World Congress for Middle Eastern Studies
(Barcelona, Spain)
2005 Training Course at Esther Woerdehoff Gallery (Paris, France)
1997 - 2002 Freelance photographer, Portrait & Advertising Photography (Teheran, Iran)
4- SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020 Projects in preparation for 2021 and 2022 including a biographical book and a traveling exhibition.
„Hymen, Blue and Rose“, Institut Français - Belgrade Photo Month (Belgrade, Serbia)
„Dreams“, curated by Georgina Alioth, FRAME Basel 2020 (Basel, Switzerland)
„Oeuvres récentes“, Bel-air Fine Art Gallery (Geneva, Switzerland)
„Niloufar, 7 ans avec 55Bellechasse en 25 oeuvres“, curated by NB, 55Bellechasse Gallery (Paris, France)
2019
„Hommage à Magritte“, preface by Gérard Xuriguera, 55Bellechasse Gallery (Paris, France)
„Hope“, curated by Géraldine Beigbeder, Fotofever, Carousel du Louvre (Paris, France)
„Intime“, FRAME Basel 2019 (Basel, Switzerland)
„Visions irréelles“ – une Photographe iranienne devenue francaise (Paris, France)
2018
“The Invisible Women", Concrete Space, curated by Carol Damian (Doral, USA)
„Dreams“, curated by Bertrand Scholler, FRAME Basel 2020 (Basel, Switzerland)
"Brave", Centro Cultural O Vello Carcere, curated by Maria Diaz Rey (Lugo, Spain)
2017
„Under Cover“ solo during "5+1 Iranians in Paris", 55Bellechasse Gallery (Paris, France)
„Nus volés, beautés dévoilées“, Seattle Art Fair (Seattle, USA)
„Dualités“, curated by Mathias Roudine, Fotofever, Carousel du Louvre (Paris, France)
„Dans les yeux“, curated by Daniela Sforza, PHOTO LONDON (London, UK)
„Oeuvres récentes“, AIPAD the Photography Show (NYC, USA)
„Expériences“, curated by Luc Fréché, Yia Maastricht pendant TEFAF (Maastricht, Belgium)
2016
„With no words“, Art 16 – Art Fair (London, UK)
Fotofever, Carousel du Louvre (Paris, France)
Keija Contemporary Art Museum, curated by Ziqi Peng (Beijing, China)
„Brave new Works“, The Solo Project, (Basel, Switzerland)
„Choses en soi“, curated by Niloufar Banisadr, Grand Palais, Art Paris (Paris, France)
„Cults“, solo show, Aldama Fabre Gallery (Bilbao, Spain)
2015
„Empreintes unies“, Fotofever, Carousel du Louvre (Paris, France)
„Beautée VOiLEE“, curated by Gérard Xuriguera, Grand Palais, Art Paris (Paris, France)
„t’Rêves et Désirs“, Copenhagen Art Fair (Copenhagen, Denmark)
2014
„Voiles aux vents“, Fotofever, Carousel du Louvre (Paris, France)
2013
„Rétrospective 1998-2013“, 55Bellechasse Gallery (Paris, France)
2012
„The Imprint", Cuadro Gallery (Dubai, UAE)
"Here..., There...", Etemad Gallery (Teheran, Iran)
2010
„Empreinte“, Spéos Gallery (Paris, France)
2007
„Hommage à Madeleine Riboulet“ - Madame Banisadr -, NegPos Gallery
(Nîmes, France)
2003
„Robe et Naïade", Stimultania Gallery (Strasbourg, France)
2001
„History of Polish Chair“, Gallery Assar (Teheran, Iran)
5- GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020
FRAME BASEL June (Basel, Switzerland)
FRAME NYC May (New York, USA)
FRAME Paris April (Paris, France)
FRAME Madrid (Madrid, Spain)
„Anniversary 7“, 55Bellechasse Gallery (Paris, France)
Art Budapest (Budpast, Hungary)
Art Russia (Moscow, Russia)
FRAME Basel February (Basel, Switzerland)
Bel Air Fine Art, (Megève, France)
2019
FRAME Miami Nov 2019- March 2020 (Miami, USA)
A star was born, 3 Iranian artists“, 55Bellechasse Gallery, (Paris, France)
Angel Orensanz Foundation, (New York, USA)
FRAME Basel (Basel, Switzerland)
Schimming Gallery (Hamburg, Germany)
FRAME Paris, (Paris, France)
Exhibition and cataloged auction, Cornette de Saint Cyr (Paris, France)
Art Market Budapest, (Budapest, Hungary)
„Visions irréelles“, Association Badguir, 92 Gallery (Paris, France)
FRAME Miami (Miami, USA)
2018
ART MIAMI (Miami, USA)
Fotofever (Paris, France)
Market Art & Design (Hamptons, USA)
FRAME Basel (Basel, Switzerland)
PHOTO LONDON (London, UK)
Seattle Art Fair (Seattle, USA)
Art New York (New York, USA)
Art Photo Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain)
Art Market San Francisco (San Francisco, USA)
AIPAD (New York, USA)
Art on Paper (New York, USA)
Volta (New York, USA)
Art Wynwood (Miami, USA)
Art Capital – Grand Palais (Paris, France)
London Art Fair (London, UK)
Art Palm Beach (Miami, USA)
2017
Art Miami (Miami, USA)
Photo Brussels Festival (Brussels, Belgium)
Sofa Chicago (Chicago, USA)
YIA Art Fair Paris (Paris, France)
Cube Art fair Brussels (Brussels, Belgium)
Contemporary Istanbul (Istanbul, Turkey)
Cosmoscow Art Fair (Moscow, Russia)
Seattle Art Fair (Seattle, USA)
Art Market Hamptons (Hamptons, USA)
Art Pampelonne (Saint-Tropez, France)
Art Salzburg contemporary (Salzburg, Austria)
Scope Basel (Basel, Switzerland)
YIA Art Fair Basel (Basel, Switzerland)
Art New York (New York, USA)
Art Capital (Paris, France)
Immix Gallery (Paris, France)
Art Market San Francisco (San Francisco, USA)
YIA Art Fair Brussels (Brussels, Belgium)
Aipad (New York, USA)
Scope NYC (New York, USA)
Art Boca Raton (Boca Raton, USA)
Mois de la Photo Off (Paris, France)
Art Wynwood (Miami, USA)
London Art Fair (London, UK)
Palm Beach (Miami, USA)
2016
Art MIAMI (Miami, USA)
Fotofever (Paris, France)
YIA Art Fair (Paris, France)
Contemporary Istanbul (Istanbul, Turkey)
Art Fair Cologne (Cologne, Germany)
YIA Art Fair (Paris, France)
Art Copenhagen (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Opening 55Bellechasse – USA (Miami, USA)
The Solo Project (Basel, Switzerland)
Art 16 London (London, UK)
Art New York (New York, USA)
YIA Art Fair Brussels (Brussels, Belgium)
Art Boca Raton (Palm Beach, USA)
Scope Basel (Basel, Switzerland)
Art Wynwood (Miami, USA)
Art Palm Beach (Palm Beach, USA)
2015 Art Basel Week (Miami, USA)
Fotofever (Paris, France)
YIA Art Fair (Paris, France)
Art Silicon Valley (San Francisco, USA)
Art Cologne (Cologne, Germany)
Art Copenhagen (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Collective exhibition, Van Gogh Museum - Mesdag collectie Den Haag (The Hague, Netherlands)
Art Southampton (Southhampton, USA)
Scope Basel (Basel, Switzerland)
Art Miami NY (New York, USA)
Art Paris Art Fair (Paris, France)
Scope New York (New York, USA)
The (un)scene (New York, USA)
Armory Art Week (New York, USA)
Art Wynwood (Miami, USA)
2014
Scope Miami (Miami, USA)
Fotofever (Paris, France)
Mois de la photo off (Paris, France)
Art Copenhagen (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Rencontres d'Arles (Arles, France)
Amsterdam Art Fair (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Scope Basel (Basel, Switzerland)
Cutlog NY (New York, USA)
Scope NY - during the Armory Show (New York, USA)
"Black & White", 55Bellechasse Gallery (Paris, France)
2013
„Christmas at 55Bellechasse“, 55Bellechasse Gallery (Paris, France)
Art Wynwood Miami (Miami, USA)
Valérie Saudan Gallery (Megève, France)
„Des voiles aux voiles“, Cécile’Art Gallery (Saint-Tropez, France)
„Iran Eternel“ – Iranian Cultural Week, Epi Plage (Ramatuelle, France)
Summer Exhibition on the French Riviera, Nouchine Gallery (Beaulieu, France)
2012
Tessellation Make Up (Istanbul, Turkey)
"L'empreinte", NegPos Gallery (Nîmes, France)
2011
„L’empreinte“ - Quinzaine Culturelle Iranienne, (Strasbourg, France)
2009
Rencontre Arles - Photo Folio Review (Arles, France)
"Voice of vision", Spéos Gallery (Paris, France)
2007
Buenos Aires Photo 07 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Arténim (Nîmes, France)
2003
Ateliers Ouverts, Stimultania Gallery (Strasbourg, France)
Exhibition Festival at Palais Universitaire (Strasbourg, France)
2002
City Photography Museum (Teheran, Iran)
2001
„Contemporary Photographers“, Assar Gallery Art (Teheran, Iran)
2000
Exhibition organized by the Canadian Embassy in Teheran in celebration of the „International Women’s Day, Barg Gallery (Teheran, Iran)
"“Art in the World“ – a representation of young artists from different continents (Paris, France)
5- COLLECTIONS
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art – Portland (Portland, Oregon, USA)
Cisneros Foundation (Miami, USA)
Keija Contemporary Art Museum (Beijing, China)
DORCAM - Doral Contemporary Art Museum (Miami, USA)
Mesdag Collectie (Musee Van Gogh) – (The Hague, Netherlands)
Ford Foundation (New York, USA)
Art Foundation – ONEPOINT – (Paris, France)
Musée d'art Moderne (MAM), (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Peggy Cooper Cafritz Foundation (Washington, USA)
(…)
As well as : Agnes Gund (PS1 & MOMA, USA), Pierre Darier (+) (MOCA Geneva, Switzerland), Paul Allen (Seattle, USA), Louis Schweitzer, Micheline Chaban-Delmas, Evelyne Levy (Geneva, Switzerland), Elisabeth Hedreen (Seattle, USA), Alain Delon, Chantal Thomas, Christophe (+), Jacques Attali, Wadji Mouawad (Beyrouth, Liban), Daniel Siboni, Hamid R; Moghadam (San Francisco, USA), Morne du Plessis (Cape Town, South Africa), Gérard Xuriguera, etc.