ArtDayME: On December 7 last year, the sudden passing of 50-year-old Afshin Pirhashemi shocked the art community in Iran and the Middle East.

The acclaimed painter—whose name had repeatedly appeared on the list of the world’s top 500 most expensive artists—passed away at the height of his career, after years of major artistic achievements and long-term collaborations with Boom Gallery in Tehran and later Ayyam Gallery in Dubai.

Now, on the first anniversary of his passing, an intriguing exhibition of 31 paintings by Afshin Pirhashemi, created between 2008 and 2011, is on view at Boom Gallery in Tehran. Several of these works are being shown for the first time.

The exhibition opens with four works from the Surah al-Fatiha series, created by Pirhashemi in 2009 using oil on canvas, each measuring 100 × 100 cm. These pieces, considered calligraphic paintings, reflect his abstract painterly intervention layered over Quranic verses.

True to Pirhashemi’s known preference, most of the works are “Untitled.” Also on view are pieces from his X Series, Rumi, The Love Wine, Dream, 1001 Nights Stories, Domain of Security, and more. Among the highlights is a striking set of eight triptychs that command particular attention.

Pirhashemi’s female-centered works, in today’s context, inevitably invite new interpretations. Viewing this collection from 2008–2009—and tracing the evolution of his artistic approach over the years—offers fertile ground for study and exploration for artists and art enthusiasts alike.

The exhibition of selected works by Afshin Pirhashemi is on view at Boom Gallery, No. 11, West Armaghan St., Vali Asr St., Tehran, Iran, and will continue for the next ten days.