TEHRAN -- Reza Yahyaei, a celebrated painter and sculptor from Mazandaran, passed away Monday at the age of 77. 
Over the last five decades, his works have been exhibited across Iran and internationally, earning him widespread recognition.
Yahyaei was born in 1948 in Babol. He studied painting, interior architecture, and ceramics at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence and sculpture and stone carving at the Carrara Academy in Italy. 
He completed a doctorate in art from the Sorbonne in Paris with the dissertation “The Language of Sculpture, the Language of Figure, the Language of Spirit.” 
He later taught at Florence’s Academy of Fine Arts, served as faculty at Jondishapoor University, and held roles in cultural heritage— including planning and restoration at Iran’s National Museum.
Among his most notable works are “Dome of the Sky”, a 620 m², 19-ton sculpture installed at Milad Tower, which is often referred to as a “storytelling monument” of Iran’s 9,000-year culture, and “Poppy Field” in the Henri Garden Museum in France. He also created bronze pieces such as “Alan Wosalo” and “The Cranes of Hope”, part of the Edima Monument series in Noor County.
Yahyaei exhibited his work in solo shows in Paris, Florence, San Francisco, and beyond. His sculptures and paintings employed materials ranging from bronze, marble, copper, and iron to wood and even plastic. Feminine figures and geometric forms often served as central motifs.
Critics and peers lauded his ability to imbue solid material with poetic breath. Pierre Wat wrote that his works often seem alive: “born, dying, and instantly reborn.” Paula Gratzi described in his art a “deep maternal tenderness mingled with the pain of abandonment and feminine subtlety.”
In recent years, The Bukhara magazine dedicated one of its “Evenings” to commemorating Yahyaei’s legacy. Details about his funeral and memorial service will be announced in due course.