Aziz Golkar
International painter and calligrapher who has received three international awards
Holder of an honorary citizenship from the United States as an International Artist. (EB-1)
Aziz Golkar was born in 1961 in Kurdistan, Iran. He studied painting and sculpture and began his professional involvement with art and calligraphy at a young age.
Over more than four decades of artistic activity, he has developed a distinctive approach that combines Persian calligraphic traditions with contemporary painting and calligraphy-painting.
His works have been exhibited internationally, and his artistic and educational activities have taken him to countries including Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Germany, Cyprus, Finland, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Georgia, the United States, and other countries.
In 1995, Golkar received significant artistic recognition in Azerbaijan in connection with his artistic and calligraphic contribution to the restoration and renewal of the monument and mausoleum of the celebrated poet Nizami Ganjavi.
Golkar has devoted a substantial part of his career to art education. He has taught painting and calligraphy through the Iranian Calligraphers Association, higher-education institutions, specialized workshops, and international educational programs.
He is also the author of numerous books and educational publications in the fields of calligraphy, painting, visual arts, artistic anatomy, printing, traditional ornamentation, and related subjects.
Golkar holds a First-Degree Artistic Distinction in Visual Arts, equivalent to a doctoral-level artistic qualification, awarded through Iran’s official art evaluation system.
He was also recognized in the United States under the EB-1 Extraordinary Ability classification in the Arts, based on his distinguished artistic record and achievements.
Beyond his individual artistic career, Golkar has increasingly dedicated his international activities to using art as a means of promoting peace, friendship, cultural dialogue, and human connection.
Education & qualification
- Graduation from the Iranian Calligraphy Association
- B/A degree in painting and sculpture
- Second-Degree Art Certificate — equivalent to a Master’s-level artistic qualification
- Certificate of super excellence in calligraphy
- Recognition under the United States EB-1 Extraordinary Ability classification in the Arts
- First-Degree Artistic Distinction in Visual Arts — equivalent to a doctoral-level artistic qualification, awarded through Iran’s official art evaluation system
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- 1981 -1991 | Head of the Calligraphy Association in Ghorveh, Kurdistan, Iran.
- 1991-2010 | Instructor at the Iranian Calligraphers Association in Tehran.
- 1995 | Conducted teaching and educational activities at Baku State University and art institutions in Baku, Azerbaijan.
- 1995 | Participated in artistic and calligraphic work associated with the restoration and renewal of the monument and mausoleum of Nizami Ganjavi in Azerbaijan. Visual Arts Center, Ministry of Culture. Served as an expert and advisor in artistic affairs.
- 2005 | Conducted an educational art workshop in Herat, Afghanistan.
- From 2004 | Founder and Director of Golkar Visual Arts School in Tehran.
- From 2007 | Teaching activities in higher-education art programs in Iran. Throughout his professional career, Golkar has conducted numerous painting and calligraphy courses, workshops, lectures, exhibitions, and educational programs in Iran and internationally.
AWARDS & HONORS
- Azerbaijan — 1995
Golkar received artistic recognition in Azerbaijan in connection with his artistic and calligraphic contribution to the restoration and renewal of the monument and mausoleum of Nizami Ganjavi. - International Recognition
Throughout his professional career, Golkar has received international awards, honors, and recognition for his contributions to painting, calligraphy, and the visual arts. - United States — EB-1 Extraordinary Ability in the Arts
Golkar was recognized under the United States EB-1 Extraordinary Ability classification in the Arts, based on his distinguished artistic achievements and record of recognition. - First-Degree Artistic Distinction
Golkar was awarded a First-Degree Artistic Distinction in Visual Arts, equivalent to a doctoral-level artistic qualification, through Iran’s official art evaluation system.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Individual exhibitions:
- 1995 — Baku, Azerbaijan | Painting & Calligraphy Exhibition
- 2004 — Frankfurt, Germany | Painting & Calligraphy Exhibition
- 2005 — Herat, Afghanistan | Painting & Calligraphy Exhibition
- 2007 — Helsinki, Finland | Painting Exhibition — CAISA Art Center
- 2007 — Manama, Bahrain | Calligraphy Exhibition
- 2007 — Tbilisi, Georgia | Painting & Calligraphy Exhibition
- 2007 — Nicosia, Cyprus | Calligraphy Exhibition
- 2008 — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Painting & Calligraphy Exhibition
- 2009 — London, United Kingdom | Painting & Calligraphy Exhibition
- 2009 — Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Painting & Calligraphy Exhibition
- 2010 — Los Angeles, United States | Painting & Calligraphy Exhibition
- 2025 — Niavaran Cultural Center, Tehran, Iran | Calligraphy-Painting ExhibitionIn addition to his individual exhibitions, Golkar has participated in more than 50 group exhibitions and artistic events in Iran and internationally.
ARTWORKS
Aziz Golkar’s artistic practice encompasses several interconnected areas:
- Calligraphy
Traditional and contemporary approaches to Persian calligraphy. - Calligraphy-Painting
Works combining calligraphic forms, color, movement, composition, and contemporary painting. - Painting
Paintings exploring form, color, human expression, nature, culture, and artistic interpretation. - Contemporary Works
Experimental works connecting traditional visual heritage with contemporary artistic expression.
Golkar’s works demonstrate his continuing exploration of the relationship between the written word and visual form.
In his art, letters and words move beyond their conventional function as written language and become independent visual elements capable of communicating rhythm, emotion, movement, and meaning.
PUBLICATIONS
- Calligraphy Training, Edition: 1985, Calligraphy
- Iranian calligraphers, Edition: 2000
ISBN: 964-6788-02-5
The countries’ calligraphers’ information bank
- Gol Font, Edition: 2005
ISBN: 964-90776-1-8
Calligraphy
- The Painting of Azizollah Golkarzadeh, Edition: 2006
ISBN: 964-9077-6-0-X
Painting
- Principle of Art, Edition: 2006
ISBN: 978-964-90776-6-6
Art
- Print & Before Print, Edition: 2006
ISBN: 978-964-90776-5-9
Printing
- Artistic Atlas of Anatomy, Edition: 2006
ISBN: 978-964-90776-3-4
Graphic
- The Revolution Process of Ancient Monuments, Edition: 2008
ISBN: 978-600-90792-5-4
Ancient
- Carpet Pattern and Illumination, Edition: 2008
ISBN: 978-600-90792-1-6
Carpet
- A Margin in the Carpet and Illumination, Edition: 2008
ISBN: 978-600-90792-4-7
Carpet
- An Introduction to Carpet Darning and Mending, Edition: 2008
ISBN: 978-600-90792-0-9
Carpet
- Oil Painting CD instruction, ordered by Windsor & Newton Company, Germany
- Teaching calligraphy in two languages: Azerbaijani and Russian.
EDUCATIONAL MEDIA
- Oil Painting Instructional Program
- An instructional oil-painting program produced in connection with an order from Windsor & Newton, Germany.
- International Calligraphy Education
- Calligraphy educational material developed in Azerbaijani and Russian for international instruction.
ARTISTIC VISION
For Aziz Golkar, art is more than the creation of beauty. It is a universal means of communication.
His artistic approach is based on the integration of painting and calligraphy.
Rather than using letters and words merely as written language, Golkar transforms them into visual forms. Letters, words, rhythm, movement, color, space, and composition interact to create a dialogue between the heritage of Persian calligraphy and contemporary painting.
His artistic philosophy is based on the belief that art can transcend differences of language, nationality, religion, culture, and geography.
Through art, people from different backgrounds can communicate, understand one another, and discover shared human values.
This philosophy has gradually become central to Golkar’s international artistic activities and his commitment to promoting peace and friendship through art.
ARTISTIC MISSION
Aziz Golkar believes that art has the power to connect humanity beyond political, religious, linguistic, cultural, and geographical boundaries.
His work as an artist, educator, author, and founder of international cultural initiatives is guided by a commitment to artistic excellence and human connection.
Through painting, calligraphy, education, international collaboration, and cultural exchange, his mission is to contribute to a world in which art becomes a shared language of peace.
- ART FOR PEACE
- ART FOR FRIENDSHIP
- ART FOR HUMANITY
Peace • Love • Friendship • Humanity
