Mohammad Mottahedan

Mohammad Mottahedan is a collector and consultant in contemporary International Art, as well as a figure in the contemporary Iranian art scene, as a panelist and judge for art competitions, such as Magic of Persia. He is currently based in London.

Biography

Born in Iran, he studied French in Paris before moving in the early 1980s to the United States to study Fine Art. Mottahedan developed close relationships with a number of contemporary artists, and started to collect circa 1985. From here he continued to assemble a comprehensive collection of historically important works, including those of Jeff Koons, Peter Halley, Carroll Dunham, Christopher Wool, Cindy Sherman, Barbara Kruger, Albert Oehlen, Dana Schutz, Aaron curry, and Pietro Roccasalva. The collection, Once Upon a Time in America. .Mottahedan has played a pivotal role in acquiring works from a wide range of both emerging and established artists. His guidance has been instrumental in adding notable figures to collections, including Avery Singer, Elizabeth Peyton, John Currin, Cindy Sherman, Dana Schutz, Peter Saul, Salman Toor, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, and Toyin Ojih Odutola. Additionally, he has helped bring artists like Sarah Lucas, Nicole Eisenman, George Condo, Bridget Riley, Fred Eversley, and James Capper into the spotlight. His influence extends to artists from diverse backgrounds such as Joel Mesler, Justin Fitzpatrick, Joel Dean, Luisa Gagliardi, Ana Benaroya, Julien Ceccaldi, Karla Kaplun, Van Hanos,Aaron Gilbert, Jason Fox, and Torbjørn Rødland. Mottahedan’s passion for contemporary art also encompasses newer voices like Yves Scherer, Yousha Bashir, Shara Hughes, Nicolas Party, Jean-Marie Appriou, Alex Da Corte, Rashid Johnson, Emily Mae Smith, and Richard Prince. His expertise reaches across borders, nurturing talents such as Mario Ayla, Pietro Roccasalva, Deana Lawson, Mamali Shafahi, Jadé Fadojutimi, Jenna Gribbon, Mohammed Sami, and Hilary Pecis, further cementing his role as a key figure in shaping contemporary art collections globally.

Mottahedan Projects

Mottahedan Projects (MP) is not defined by a physical location but rather by a deep passion for contemporary art, which began in the 1980s with the collection of modern works, eventually documented in the book Once Upon a Time in America. Since then, MP has expanded its vision by exhibiting both emerging and established artists in various project spaces across Dubai, Tehran, and London. MP's mission is to elevate contemporary art on the global stage, offering artists a platform for greater visibility and engagement.

MP's dedication extends beyond personal collecting, providing guidance on building collections while fostering innovative approaches to contemporary art and culture. This vision aims to reshape how society perceives and interacts with the art of our time. It was also dedicated to lead in developing, nurturing and creating platforms for emerging artists.