HOWTAN RE

Howtan Re was born in Teheran in 1974. In 1979 Howtan arrived in Italy with his two brothers following the overthrow of the Shah in 1979. He has been living between Italy and the United States since 1986. At present, he
resides in London and Rome.
Architect, and about to get his second degree in psychology (2022), he has been into photography since he was a child, but he had never thought of becoming an artist until he met Professor Achille Bonito Oliva in 2003.
After watching Howtan’s photographic works, the important art critic, as well as professor of contemporary art at La Sapienza University of Rome and director of the 43rd Art Biennale of Venice, encouraged him to stage his first solo exhibition in Italy.
In 2004 Howtan presented the “Hell & Paradise” series at Galleria Contarte. The ambassador at the opening ceremony was Achille Bonito Oliva was charmed by Howtan’s artwork and wrote the preface of the catalogue (printed in 30,000 copies).
In September 2004 the ‘Hell & Paradise’ exhibition was organized at the Stella Art Gallery of Moscow (currently SAF Museum). On that occasion, Howtan was contacted by the Museum of Contemporary Art of St. Petersburgh to host his works.