Ashkon Haidari Persia / USA, b. 1991

As a first generation Persian-American, Haidari’s contributions to his ancestral country’s 5,000 year artistic heritage exist in communion with and advancement of a contemporary Persian art canon. While his mode of expression remains respectfully referential to Persian allegory, he furthers and augments it– moments from ancient poetry and art marry with contemporary western art history to create an altogether novel language. As a Chicago-born artist, Haidari readily and unflinchingly contributes to a history of distinctly Chicago surrealism as well. His relationship with his culture is palpable, yet alienating, and his work is slowly–and successfully–becoming a journey towards belonging, or building a world in which he belongs. He has exhibited at Povos Gallery (Chicago) and has  a forthcoming group presentation at Anna Zorina Gallery (NYC) as well as a solo booth with Povos Gallery in 2025.