ArtDayMe _ Salimeh Motamedi (b. 1962, Isfahan) is an Iranian painter whose works stand at the intersection of spirituality, mysticism, and contemporary social concerns. When her paintings were presented by Martex Road and BAAT Group at Frankfurt Art Fair 2024, at Rachel Bianchi Archive, Milan (2025), and at ITHAQUE Gallery, Paris (2025), they were met with remarkable acclaim.

Motamedi pursued academic studies in painting up to the master’s level in Tehran and has long been active as an artist, art educator, and the founder of Qalamo Academy.

Her artistic voice is unique, representing an independent female painter in the Middle East who, beyond all the restrictions imposed on women in this geography, reflects sensorial and sociological analyses in passionate, colorful explorations.

The central themes of Motamedi’s works are a fusion of Iranian mysticism, Persian poetry, and the lived experiences of women in contemporary society.

Mysticism and Sufism shape a significant part of her worldview and manifest in collections such as Unity in Multiplicity – Multiplicity in Unity and Sama Dance. In these works, brushstrokes and color rhythms mirror the whirling of Sama and the ascent of the soul toward divine truth.

At the same time, social concerns—particularly the challenges faced by women—run as a common thread throughout her practice and become the central subject in series like Ink Wash and New Era.

Her fascination with modern Persian literature also inspired the series From Afar, a Voice Calls Me, titled after a poem by Sohrab Sepehri. Here, the harmony of nature and humanity is reimagined with poetic and symbolic expression.

In recent years, Motamedi has addressed social transformations in Iran and the role of the women’s movement through her New Era series. These works reflect dynamic spaces and symbols such as “windows of light” and the color green as signs of hope and vitality.

Her forms are not representational or realist; rather, through flat surfaces, tonal grays, and vibrant luminous colors, they adopt an abstract expressionist orientation.

Light and color in her paintings function much like in the works of Turner—conveying emotions and spirituality while also evoking the turbulence and serenity of nature.

Ultimately, her art merges literary inspiration, mystical insight, and social concern into a cohesive and distinctive visual language.

Salimeh Motamedi’s Reflections on Her Eight Series

Motamedi’s candid, heartfelt comments on her eight painting series provide revealing insights into her inner world.

Ink Wash Series

“My ink and ecoline drawings are deeply emotional, perfectly aligned with my inner self. Ink, by nature, is fluid, soft, and flowing, and the artist must control and direct it toward their intent. In this series, with gentle ink, I reflected the violence against women. Closed spaces, intricate forms, and dark browns with harsh, rugged lines all expose the limitations imposed on Middle Eastern women—the suffocating masculine atmosphere they face.”

Nature Series

“Nature is where I can breathe again, where one can shed physical exhaustion and lift one’s head to the sky to lighten the soul. Every corner of nature restores you. But my approach to nature is not landscape painting—it is abstract and figurative abstraction. Nearly all these works were created with palette knife technique.”

Sama Dance

Motamedi created the Sama Dance series inspired by Rumi’s mystical poetry:

“My perspective was abstract, and I wanted Sama to be different. At first, I painted the Sama dance itself—this spiritual rotation gradually brought me closer to its essence. In Rumi’s verses, I found revelations that shaped this search for truth, a deeper understanding of creation, and a more precise gaze at existence.”

She continues:  “Within ourselves, we need a place of safety, a space of serenity to release the bonds we have wound around our own being. ‘Sama Dance’ is one of those earthly moments of liberation.”

Hope, Effort, Movement

“When the social atmosphere constantly reminds you of dead ends and restrictions, it is hard to feel well. Only hope, effort, and movement can be life-saving. As a painter, with color and form, I try to embody this saving trinity under any condition.”

From Afar, a Voice Calls Me

This series was inspired by Sohrab Sepehri’s nostalgic poetry:

“His poems always awaken in me a sense of freedom, painting for me horizons filled with calm and serenity awaiting us. These works reflect that enchanting horizon through my lens. They also show that one must break free of false obligations and self-imposed bonds to truly liberate oneself.”

Concern About the Future

In one of her most contemporary collections, Concern About the Future, Motamedi visualizes both personal and collective anxieties:

“As a woman and mother, I am deeply concerned for tomorrow—my children’s future and my people’s destiny. Dark stains amidst light, and the expressive features of the figures, all cry out this anxiety.”

Untitled

Her recent Untitled series focuses on the women’s movement:

“Gray overlays of red, white, and green recur across these works, echoing the pains and social constraints that I protest on canvas. At the same time, white windows and openings of light symbolize hope for the future.”

The Market for Salimeh Motamedi’s Works

Over the past decade, the market value of Salimeh Motamedi’s works has risen significantly, a trend affirmed by their strong sales from Frankfurt Art Fair to her exhibitions in Paris and Milan.

Her mid-sized paintings were priced at $4,000 at Frankfurt Art Fair 2024, $4,000 at Rachel Bianchi Archive, Milan 2025, and $5,000 at ITHAQUE Gallery, Paris 2025.

Her first solo show, From Afar, a Voice Calls Me, was held at Banafsheh Gallery in 2005, followed by Golestan Gallery—one of the Middle East’s oldest galleries—in 2007.

Her works have since been exhibited internationally at key art events including China Expo (2006), World Peace Exhibition, Tehran (2007), Farrel Gallery, Paris (2017), Artem Gallery, Los Angeles (2024), as well as at prominent museums and galleries in Tehran.