Last week in Tehran was steaming hot and the temperature got as high as thirty degrees. Despite the heat, I managed to go to several galleries, and overall I must admit I was not disappointed. I will be reporting about the artists whose works I saw in several short reports.

The first artist whose work I saw is a very happy housewife who paints in the middle of her normal household daily duties. Maryam Khatami was exhibiting her works at the Banafsheh gallery.

Maryam Khatami with her favorite work

I found her portraits very strong and interesting. I did not feel the same for her smaller landscape works. At the opening, her husband and daughter were there to support her, even though I doubt she needed their support. She seemed very ‘rahatt-, someone who is at peace with herself and with what she does and her surroundings.

She has been painting for 18 years and has studied under such well known names as Mr. Vakilli, Mr. Ammaeh-Pich and Mr. Alkhass. She told me that she likes people and that’s why she does more portraits than landscapes. She also said that she sees herself in many of her works. I have a few samples of her work as well as one of her near one of favorite works. What do you think?