ArtDayMe : Kiarash Yaghoubi was born in 1978 in Tehran. The presence of seven of his works in the collection of the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, the sale of six works at Opera Gallery Dubai in 2013, and his prominence in exhibitions from London to Tokyo and Dubai established his name as a forward-thinking artist in calligraphic abstraction within the Middle East. The sale of his work in the recent AlBahie auction in Doha once again placed him at the forefront of the media.

In this article, we examine a work by Yaghoubi showcased at Mojdeh Gallery in Autumn 2025—an untitled piece from his latest series, The Third Line, executed with acrylic and ink on canvas measuring 100 × 100 cm.

This work, defined by its subtlety and Eastern Zen-like order, clearly demonstrates its grasp of contemporary seduction. The artist could only achieve such a piece at this dimension through strenuous artistic meditation—a new interpretation within the evolving continuum of contemporary conceptual calligraphic painting.

Calligraphic strokes run diagonally across the canvas in parallel bands: some adorned with a layer of luminous gold, others bearing darker overlays with reduced transparency.

The geometric organization of these lines rests at the threshold between text and visual structure, evoking Iranian architectural memory yet framed through a modern, abstract sensibility.

The use of cool and gray tones reinforces a sense of stillness, reflection, and contemplation, inviting the viewer into introspection rather than movement or excitement.

In Yaghoubi’s modern calligraphic practice, line, text, and meaning are stripped of their semantic layers and elevated into a purely visual field. The lines no longer serve as carriers of linguistic content; instead, they assume an abstract structural presence.

The Third Line may be interpreted as a representation of Iranian identity negotiating with the modern global order—where Eastern textual tradition merges with contemporary visual media.

The combination of acrylic and ink enables the artist to achieve both chromatic transparency and strong coverage: the fast-drying acrylic, layered with ink, offers clarity and durability while allowing precision in line and varied texture.

This technique is well suited to abstract and visually captivating works and expands the artist’s capacity for profound conceptual and aesthetic expression.

Yaghoubi approaches contemporary calligraphic painting with a perspective distinct from previous generations of calligraphers. He moves away from direct textual articulation and instead concentrates on the conceptual architecture of line and space.

His work, presented at Mojdeh Gallery as part of the exhibition “Crowd”, stands as an example of conceptual calligraphy rooted in cultural identity—sustaining a suspension between meaning and form, stroke and surface, tradition and modernity.

This fresh approach to line marks a new current in contemporary art in Iran and the Middle East, prompting audiences to reflect on the relationship between tradition and innovation.

The equilibrium between heritage and visual modernity—between text and spatial architecture—resonates throughout The Third Line. This approach has earned Yaghoubi a distinctive standing among progressive Middle Eastern artists.

The piece is an eloquent example of the evolution of contemporary calligraphic painting—challenging both theme and structure while allowing multiple interpretations.

It is noteworthy that Yaghoubi has received ten prestigious calligraphy awards in Iran, including First Prize at the Tehran Pen Calligraphy Festival and the Special Award commemorating the 400th anniversary of the passing of "Mir Emad".

He has held more than ten solo exhibitions and participated in over thirty group shows.

Seven of his works are held in the collection of the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia—the largest Islamic art museum in Southeast Asia. The sale of six works at Opera Gallery Dubai, followed by successful showings and strong sales in a series of exhibitions in London, Japan, Bahrain, the UAE, and Turkey, further reinforced his status.

On 25 February 2025 , Mojdeh Art Gallery presented a work from Yaghoubi’s new The Third Line series at AlBahie Auction in Doha. A 100 × 100 cm piece from this series sold for USD 2,600.

These achievements have led many esteemed collectors to acquire works by Kiarash Yaghoubi for their collections.