Download the Iranian Art Auction Market Report Half-Year Review | 1404 SH (Mar–Sep 2025) [PDF]
In the first half of 1404, approximately 366 works by 190 Iranian artists appeared across 60 auctions, of which 230 lots were sold, resulting in a 63% sell-through rate. Total sales for Iranian artists reached $4.6 million, marking a 28% decline compared with the same period last year.
The average age of the artists was 63, with a gender distribution of 71% male and 29% female. During this period, the top-selling male artist was Hossein Zenderoudi, and the top-selling female artist was Monir Farmanfarmaian.
Market data indicates that the auction segment remained heavily concentrated in painting (including calligraphic painting), which accounted for nearly 80% of total value ($3.67 million). Notably, no new-media works appeared among the sold categories in this period.
Despite representing the smallest share of lots, works priced above $50,000 generated 59% of total value, whereas works under $5,000, which constituted 43% of all lots, accounted for only 4% of the total value.
Tehran Auction led the market with 48% of total sales ($2.2 million), followed by Sotheby’s (20%), Phillips (12%), and Christie’s (7%). Online auctions contributed only 8.5% of the overall market volume.
Geographically, Tehran remained the primary hub. Among international cities, New York was the only market that experienced year-on-year growth (+19%). Paris and Dubai recorded declines of 62% and 70%, respectively.
The top ten lots sold in this period were by the following artists (in order):
Bahman Mohassess, Hossein Zenderoudi, Ali Banisadr, Manoucher Yektai, Massoud Arabshahi, Sohrab Sepehri, Sahand Hesamiyan, Mehdi Qadyanlou, Hossein Zenderoudi, and Monir Farmanfarmaian.
