“Savushun; Portrait of Simin Daneshvar”. Gold leaf, watercolor, and pastel pencil on kraft paper. 9.5 × 12 inches

Alimohammad Parvaresh is an MFA student in painting + drawing at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is a detail-oriented painter with a focus on photorealistic portraiture and narrative painting.

Born and raised in Esfahan, Iran, a city renowned for its rich historical art heritage, Alimohammad was captivated by history painting. Despite earning a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Sharif University of Technology, his true passion has always been art. He served as an instructor of drawing and colored pencil painting at the Visual Arts Club of Sharif University. His dedication led to his appointment as the head of the Club, where he organized various art competitions, exhibitions, and programs.

A significant milestone in Alimohammad’s career was his collaboration with the esteemed Central Library of Sharif University. Through this partnership, he designed memorials for the library building, aiming to inspire students to appreciate Iran’s history and culture through his artwork. His pieces have been showcased in solo and group exhibitions at the university level, with a selection now on display at the Central Library of Sharif University.

Artist Statement

Ever since I discovered my passion for art, I have been drawn to narrating ancient tales. Immersing myself in the study of Iran’s history and literature, my goal is to infuse my narrative paintings and historical figure reconstructions with the precision and accuracy I constantly strive for. I am fascinated by how the latest scientific research can challenge our traditional understanding of the past. Through my narrative paintings, I aim to highlight how stories from the past can impact our society’s present and how current events can reshape our perception of history.

In my portrait paintings, I strive to illuminate the achievements of the figures depicted. For example, in honoring the renowned Iranian novelist Simin Daneshvar, I combined her photorealistic portrait with an Iranian miniature, resulting in a unique composition that mirrors the deep impact of Persian classical literature on her contemporary writing. Developing new visual forms that highlight historical origins is a fundamental aspect of my artistic pursuits.

My current art project focuses on recreating portraits of Iranian scientists from the medieval Islamic world. Given the scarcity of concrete evidence, the faces must be imaginatively constructed. However, when depicting their attire and accessories, I diligently gather historical references.