OMID ASADI

Working across a wide range of creative disciplines, Asadi investigates the acute and complex issues of identity in a social and political conflict that the artist himself experienced growing up in Iran. Although his work is often traceable to a certain socio-politic situation, there is alway a deeper philosophical context to it. Influenced largely by Persian literature and symbolism, Asadi approaches each subject poetically, through emotion, subtle metaphor, visual clues and associations.
Asadi first gained recognition for his intricate leaf cuttings, that drew attention of collectors as well as the media. The elaborate and time consuming process of carving, turns an ordinary leaf into a delicate piece of art. Asadi’s fragile, thoughtful and often allegorical images emphasise the ways we often overlook the seemingly unimportant things in life, unless they are brought into our attention.
Asadi’s work has been recently featured by Sky, BBC, Daily Mail, Al-Arabia, Manchester Evening News, The San Francisco Globe. His works are in public and private collections worldwide, he recently finished a commission for 20th Century Fox, LA, USA.
Asadi lives and works in Manchester, UK.

Education:
2017-2018 MA, Fine Art, Manchester Metropolitan University.
2014-2017 BA, Fine Art, Manchester Metropolitan University.

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2017 In Visible Lines, Scaffold Gallery, Manchester, UK.
2017 Make/Shift, Air Gallery at A4studios, Manchester, UK.
2016 Saul Hey Gallery at Portico Library, Manchester, UK.
2016 One, Saul Hey Gallery, Manchester, UK.
2014-2015 All Wrapped Up, Manchester Royal Exchange, Manchester, UK.
2014 Sale Art Trail, Waterside Arts Centre, Manchester, UK.
2014 The Coffee Art Project, The Old Truman Brewery, London, UK.
2013-2014 Exposition, Corn Exchange, Manchester, UK.
2013 The Coffee Art Project, Dray Walk Gallery, London, UK.
2013 The Coffee Art Project, Presso Arcam Factory, Milano, Italy, (Shortlisted)

Selected Bibliography:

Roxanne Goldberg, “Artist Omid Asadi’s gorgeous leaf cutting”, The San Francisco Globe, September 3, 2017. http://sfglobe.com/2016/02/01/artist-omid-asadis-gorgeous-carved-leaves/
Daria Tarasova, “When nature is a co-author”, Espresso TV, July 16, 2016. http://espreso.tv/article/2016/07/16/iranskyy_khudozhnyk
“Artistic Paintings on Foliage”, Al-Arabiya TV, Dubai, UAE, August 18, 2014.
Interview, Sky News Arabia TV, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, July 7, 2014.
Amy Glendinning, “Pictured: Artist’s stunning creations – carved from fallen leaves“, Manchester Evening News, August 12, 2014. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/pictured-artists-stunning-creations—7600785
Jack Crone, “Art that’s just a walk in the park”, Daily Mail, August 12, 2014. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2722851/Artist-Omid-Asadi-creates-designs-using-leaves-scalpel.htm

Selected Commission:

2016 Corporate commission for digital marketing purpose, MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN, Mixed media work (50x40cm), cut leaf on panel, 20th Century, Los Angeles, USA.

Public Collection:

Siam Discovery shopping mall, Bangkok, Thailand.