Painter and Musician Reza Derakshani was born in Sangsar, 1952, in a small nomadic village towards the northeast of Iran. Being raised in a mountainous climate with a nomadic backdrop had an enormous impact on his admiration for natural beauty and the wonders of creation. In 1976 Derakshani graduated from the Art School at the University of Tehran, soon after leaving for the USA to pursue postgraduate studies at the Passadena Art Centre in California. On his return to his homeland, he began to teach Art and Graphic Design at the University of Tehran and the School of Decorative Arts. His teaching career was cut short by the revolution and he migrated to New York where he lived for twenty years. His various recent projects include creating contemporary frescoes in a chapel in Tuscany and for the mansion of British singer Sting. Derakshani has had solo exhibitions in numerous international galleries, including Gandriz, Seyhoon and Mehr galleries (Tehran), Lori Dunn's gallery (Los Angeles), Thumb Gallery (London) and Palais de La Nation (Geneva). Derakshani has also been featured in numerous television shows and publications, including the ABC TV, Chicago Tribute, The Los Angeles Times and the BBC