The history of painting in Iran (Persia) dates back to those days when the earlier inhabitants of this land gave shape to what they perceived from the nature, and for many years the art of traditional Iranian painting, simply adorn nature.

The smooth motion, lively lines and colors give the Iranian artists the possibility to create and illustrate their sincere feelings and stories.

Inspiration and form in Iranian painting are so interdependent that an art work without insight and subject could never lead the viewer to the world of thought and meditation.

The musical intonation of colors pacing with the rhythmic movement of the lines, would lead the viewer to glide his attention from the environs to the centerpiece and the context of the inspiration.

In her works, Fereshteh Salehi born in Iran – Tehran also tells her stories with lines and colors in a plain and poetic manner.

Like Icons, her works portray simplicity, care and hope. They bring to mind all the mystery of what Arabic literary critics call al-sahl al-mumtana a simplicity that is impossible to imitate/explain.

She uses miniature elements and fresco techniques, which results nostalgic idealized paintings, that evokes people feelings of recognition, nostalgia, and love.

Her youth and roots in the ancient Persia, her school and her struggle with the classic views within the European art-world turn out to be an unsuspected source of dreams images.

It is no coincidence that the hands and eyes play such a big part in her works. They form the border and the distinction between inside and outside- between ourselves and the world-between past, present, future.

The human individual does not approach nature as something that is “matter” but respects it as another self! So the flowers, birds and fishes are magnified in her works to enable the viewer to appreciate the delicate beauty of each blossom and incidentally, her loving care in portraying them.

The world can be seen with eyes closed.

1962 – Born in Tehran-Iran.
1979 – After finishing high school, attended the state Art school Kamal Al Molk, under the supervision of Master Hossein Sheikh.
1990 – 1992 – Studied English at Northern virginia Community College, Washington.DC.
1992 – 1994 – Taught English as second language at Iran Zamin Institute, Tehran.
1994 – Lives and works in The Netherlands.
1997 – Attended Royal Academy of Art in The Hague.
2001 – Graduated from the Royal Academy of Art and was selected by Ernst & Young Art Committee for an exhibition in The Hague.
2002 – Museum Hillesluis, Rotterdam solo exhibition.
2006 – Gallery Honingen, Gouda. Group exhibition.
2006 – Gallery Honingen, Gouda. Winter exhibition.
2007 – Art Centre,Tehran,Iran.
2007 – Gallery Verkono,Roden,Seven Iranian Artists in the Netherlands.
2007 – Smelik & Stokking, The Hague, miniatures exhibition.
2007 – Smelik & Stokking, Amsterdam, Roterdam, The Hague, summer exhibition.
2007 – Green Art Gallery Dubai. In corporation with the Royal Dutch Embassy, duo exhibition.
2008 – Smelik & Stokking, Amsterdam, summer exhibition.
2008 – Smelik & Stokking,The Hague, group miniature exhibition.
2008 – Smelik & Stokking, The Hague, solo exhibition, October – November.
2008 – Gallery Goda, Amsterdam, Grote Kerk Alkmaar group exhibition.
2009 – Gallery De Drieluik, Lochem. duo exhibition.
2009 – Stedelijk Museum, Gouda, group exhibition.
2009 – Gallery De Drieluik, Grote Kerk Lochem, summer group exhibition.
2009 – Smelik & Stokking, 40 years jubilee, group exhibition.
2010 – Gallery Vellekoop,De Lier, group exhibition.
2010 – Gallery Goda,Amsterdam,group exhibition.
2010 – Gallery Smelik & Stokking, Amsterdam, The Hauge,group exhibition.
2011 – Gallery Goda, Amsterdam, group exhibition.
2011 – Gallery Smelik & stokking, The Hague, Group exhibition.
2011 – Gallery Firma Van Drie, Gouda, solo exhibition.
2012 – Stedelijk Museum, Gouda, group exhibition.
2012 – Gallery Reghthuys, Nieuwkoop, group exhibition.
2012 – Gallery Artterre, Eefde, group exhibition.
2013 – Gallery Smelik & Stokking, Amsterdam,The Hague.
2013 – Gallery Artterre, Eefde,group exhibition.
2013 – 45 year Gallery Smelik & Stokking, group exhibition, The Hague, Amsterdam.
2013 – Kunstschouw,gallery Wolf, Nieuw Haamstede.
2014 – Gallery Smelik & Stokking, The Hague.
2014 – Gallery Artterre, Efde, group exhibition.
2014 – Gallery Lauswolt, Groningen, group exhibition.

Forthcoming : 2015 – Stedelijk Museum Gouda, Salon group exhibition.
Her works are in private collections: Europe, United States, Dubai and Iran.