TEHRAN — Iranian artists recorded what organizers described as “good sales” at the 14th Cosmoscow International Contemporary Art Fair, as Iran made its third consecutive appearance at one of Russia’s leading platforms for contemporary art.
More than 50 Iranian artists represented by eight galleries presented works at the Moscow fair, bringing together figures from Iran’s modern art history and a younger generation of contemporary practitioners. The presentation was organized under the title “Persian Art: Dialogue of Generations.”
Works by established Iranian artists including Mohsen Vaziri Moghaddam, Reza Derakshani, Farideh Lashai, Hussein Kazemi and Farshid Maleki, alongside works by contemporary artists, attracted visitors to the Iranian presentation, according to its organizers.
The commercial response was highlighted during a visit to the Iranian booth by Kazem Jalali, Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Abdolreza Rashed, cultural counsellor at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Russia, and Margarita Pushkina, founder and director of Cosmoscow.
Jalali said the significance of Iranian participation went beyond the display and sale of individual works, arguing that a sustained presence at the fair was helping Iranian artists enter Russia’s professional art network.
“Participation in such an event means entering the professional network of the Russian art market,” Jalali said. He pointed to opportunities for Iranian artists to be seen by collectors, gallerists, specialists and cultural institutions, potentially creating opportunities for exhibitions, sales and future cooperation.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining a regular presence at Cosmoscow, saying that recognition and trust in the contemporary art market are built through continued interaction between artists, galleries and collectors.
Pushkina said Iranian culture and art are exceptionally rich and recalled the interest surrounding the decision to invite Iranian galleries and artists to Cosmoscow. After three consecutive editions, she said, Russian audiences have become increasingly familiar with Iranian artists, galleries and their work.
Rashed described Iran’s continuing participation as an example of cultural diplomacy through art rather than a ceremonial appearance. He said the Iranian presentation sought to offer Russian audiences a contemporary view of Iranian art beyond stereotypical perceptions, using works by different generations to demonstrate continuity between modern and contemporary Iranian practice.
The 2026 edition of Cosmoscow brought together 108 contemporary-art and design galleries at Moscow’s Timiryazev Centre. The fair ran from September 4 to 6, with the selection of participating galleries based on their professional programs, the quality and reputation of the artists and works presented, and the concept and presentation of their projects.