TEHRAN -- The sixth edition of Illustration Week in Iran opened at the House of Artists, with this year’s theme, “Artists’ Narratives of the Iranian Land,” placing a spotlight on the everyday life, architecture, marketplaces, and social rituals that shape Iranian identity. 
The opening ceremony also saw the presentation of the Neshan Aban awards to this year’s standout illustrators.
This edition offered a comprehensive survey of contemporary illustration practices, from hand-drawn and digital works on paper and canvas to three-dimensional formats. In the newly introduced Neo-Media section, audiences encountered experimental forms, including NFTs, concept art, comics, and commercial illustrations, reflecting the evolving landscape of visual storytelling in Iran.
The Neshan Aban, Iran’s most prestigious illustration award, recognized four figures this year: Bahman Dadkhah (Grand Master), Atiyeh Markazi (Familiar Name), Farideh Shahbazi (Peer Illustrator), and Nooshin Sadeghian (Emerging Illustrator). Sadeghian also received the Bratislava Grand Illustration Award 2025.
During the ceremony, Kianoush Gharibpour, the award’s secretary, traced the evolution of Illustration Week from its inception to the present.
The exhibition, titled “Iranshahr,” runs from October 31-November 11 across the House of Artists’ galleries, daily from 1 PM to 8 PM (closed Saturdays). Complementary programming includes panel discussions, artist talks, and critical reviews, offering deeper engagement with the practices on display.
Organized by the Iranian Association of Illustrators, this year’s edition underscores the ongoing vitality and international relevance of Iranian illustration while highlighting artists’ intimate dialogues with their homeland.