Iman Maleki is an Iranian realist painter born in Tehran in 1976, known for his incredibly detailed technique and emotional depth. He became fascinated with painting as a child and began formal lessons at fifteen under Morteza Katouzian, one of Iran’s greatest realist masters. His early start shaped a lifelong devotion to classical values.
“Every brushstroke remembers where it came from.”
Maleki studied at the Fine Arts Faculty of the University of Tehran, graduating in Graphic Design in 1999. By then he had already begun exhibiting his work, showing a maturity far beyond his age and a strong commitment to realism.
“Learning becomes real when the heart agrees with the hand.”
In 2000 he married and soon after founded ARA Painting Studio, where he teaches painting with a focus on classical and traditional techniques. His studio became a place for young artists to learn discipline, patience and the craft of realism.
“A studio is not a room, it’s a way of thinking.”
He participated in major exhibitions such as the Realist Painters of Iran show at the Tehran Contemporary Museum of Art and group exhibitions at SABZ Gallery and Sa’ad Abad Palace. These early shows helped establish his reputation as a leading realist voice.
“Art grows when it stands beside other art.”
In 2005 Maleki received the William Bouguereau Award and the Chairman’s Choice Award at the ARC Salon for works like Omens of Hafez and A Girl by the Window. These awards placed him on the international stage and confirmed his mastery.
“Recognition is only a mirror, not the destination.”
His painting Dizziness was featured in the Farjam Collection in Dubai, and he is represented internationally by the Artists Advocacy Group. His work continues to appear in exhibitions around the world, admired for its precision and emotional clarity.
“A painting speaks when silence is not enough.”
Maleki has been married since 2000 and continues to teach, paint and guide new artists. His dedication to realism remains steady, shaped by tradition but alive with personal feeling.
Light settles soft on quiet skin,
shaping stories held within.
Lines drift slow in tender grace,
touching time in every face.
Brush and memory twist and stay,
holding moments swept away.
And in his work the viewer sees
a world rebuilt in gentle degrees.