Nafir (they/them) was born in Tehran, Iran.
As the child of a carpet merchant working in the city’s main bazaar, their infant years were filled with the colours, patterns and textures of the artisanal and artistic heritage of his country.
They then found realization through the medium of street art at a young age and soon started implementing these familiar designs into their pieces, gradually evolving in complexity and depth of meaning, aided by another powerful source of inspiration: being raised by a single mom.
Witnessing life through her eyes gave them access to an otherwise hidden sphere, and shaped their reality to the point that art itself became the personification of feminine strength and vision.
Nafir (they/them) was born in Tehran, Iran.
As the child of a carpet merchant working in the city’s main bazaar, their infant years were filled with the colours, patterns and textures of the artisanal and artistic heritage of his country.
They then found realization through the medium of street art at a young age and soon started implementing these familiar designs into their pieces, gradually evolving in complexity and depth of meaning, aided by another powerful source of inspiration: being raised by a single mom.
Witnessing life through her eyes gave them access to an otherwise hidden sphere, and shaped their reality to the point that art itself became the personification of feminine strength and vision.
Portrait by Victoria Wallisfurth
Portrait by Victoria Wallisfurth
After more than 10 years of activity, they found a deeper way of staying in contact with their roots by linking their well-learned craft to those learned from their ancestors, making the Persian carpet and other artisanal objects their direct canvases.
They were compelled to portray their own unique perspective on urban art by stencilling unveiled faces of modern Iranian women on centuries-old carpets and pasting them in the street - using a traditional medium, often associated with religion, to depict bold women living in a repressive society and daring to confront the judgement of the passing crowd. The implications of raising their voice over this kind of issues, forced them to adopt a moniker to protect their identity, and they pointedly chose “Nafir”, meaning “scream”.
Nafir's artworks have seen the light of sidewalks and art galleries all over the world, spanning 4 different continents and more than 15 countries.
After more than 10 years of activity, they found a deeper way of staying in contact with their roots by linking their well-learned craft to those learned from their ancestors, making the Persian carpet and other artisanal objects their direct canvases.
They were compelled to portray their own unique perspective on urban art by stencilling unveiled faces of modern Iranian women on centuries-old carpets and pasting them in the street - using a traditional medium, often associated with religion, to depict bold women living in a repressive society and daring to confront the judgement of the passing crowd. The implications of raising their voice over this kind of issues, forced them to adopt a moniker to protect their identity, and they pointedly chose “Nafir”, meaning “scream”.
Nafir's artworks have seen the light of sidewalks and art galleries all over the world, spanning 4 different continents and more than 15 countries.
