Raoof Haghighi Explained

Birth Place:	Shiraz, Iran
Nationality:	British, Iranian
Known For:	Painting

Raoof Haghighi is an Iranian-born British artist, known for his portraiture and realism.^{[1] [2]}

He was born in 1976 in Shiraz, Iran.^[3] His father was an artist and it was in Iran where he started to learn painting; he is a self taught artist. Since 1995, he has had many group and solo art exhibitions internationally, including in Iran, the United Kingdom, United States, Czech Republic, Spain, and Ireland.

In April 2023, Raoof will showcase his ‘surreal and hyperrealistic’ portraits and drawings at a London exhibit which he is dedicating to ‘all the brave women’ in Iran fighting for their freedom.^{[4] [5] [6] [7]}

Awards

• 2011, 2015, 2017 – BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London, England^[8]
• 2017 – Winner of the Gold Memorial Bowl award for best miniature work in the exhibition at the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers, London, England^[9]
• 2016 – Overall winner of Jackson's competition 'Drawn in competition', Jackson Art Supplies, London, England^[10]
• 2014 – Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2014 London Heat winner^{[11] [12]}
• 2011 – Overall winner – Artist of the Year 2011 – Artists & Illustrators magazine^[13]

Exhibitions

• Prague City Gallery – The Stone Bell House The Reunion of Poetry and Philosophy 3 March – 4 April 2018^[14]
• BP Portrait Award 2017 – The National Portrait Gallery, London – 22 June – 24 September 2017^[15]
• Royal Society of Miniature Painters. 20 September – 1 October 2017 at Mall Galleries, London.
• BP Portrait Award 2015 – June–September 2015 – National Portrait Gallery, London^[16]
• BP Portrait Award 2011 National Portrait Gallery, London – Wolverhampton Art Gallery^[17]

Notes and References

1. Web site: BP Portrait Award 2017 - Sarah by Raoof Haghighi. National Portrait Gallery. 2019-12-12.
2. Web site: Nicholson . Kate . 2023-03-03 . HuffPost UK . HuffPost UK.
3. Web site: Raoof Haghighi. 2017-07-15. art4d. en-US. 2019-12-12.
4. News: Persian artist dedicates London exhibition to 'all the brave women' in Iran fighting for their freedom . 20 March 2023 . Evening Standard . 20 March 2023.
5. News: 'Just Take Them And Leave Me Alone' Artwork Will Be Displayed in London . 27 February 2023 . Broadway World . 20 March 2023.
6. News: These Artworks Are A Gut-Wrenching Reminder That Iran Is Still In Turmoil . 3 March 2023 . Yahoo! News . 20 March 2023.
7. News: Raoof Haghighi: Painting is Like Breathing for Me . ART PLUGGED . 20 March 2023.
8. Web site: Art reviews: Splendours of the Subcontinent at the Queen's Gallery, BP Portrait Award 2017, Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Macmillan. Duncan. 17 January 2018. The Scotsman.
9. Web site: Past winners, Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers, Gold Memorial Bowl. Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers. en. 2018-08-17.
10. News: Drawn In Competition - Winners - Jackson's Art Blog. 2016-11-25. Jackson's Art Blog. 2018-08-17. en-GB.
11. Web site: Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2014: Raoof Haghighi, First Heat Winner. Cass Art. 2018-08-17.
12. Web site: Portrait Artist of the Year review. 2014-11-05. The Independent. en. 2019-12-12.
13. Web site: Winners of Artist of the Year 2011 Announced! - News - Artists & Illustrators - Original art for sale direct from the artist. UK. The Chelsea Magazine Company, London. www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk. en. 2018-08-17.
14. Web site: Contemporary British Art Artlines. www.artlines.cz. 2018-08-17.
15. Web site: BP Portrait Award 2017 - Sarah. www.npg.org.uk. en. 2018-08-17.
16. Web site: BP Portrait Award 2015 - The Reader. The National Portrait Gallery. en. 2018-08-17.
17. Web site: National Portrait Gallery - Exhibitor. www.npg.org.uk. en. 2018-08-17.