Chronology of Activities
This pioneering career reflects more than five decades of tireless efforts by Master Jalil Ziapour – the father of modern painting in Iran; an artist and theorist who interwove painterly creation with field research in folk culture and art, academic teaching, and the organization of cultural institutions. This chronology, while precisely preserving the dates, provides a concise and documented picture of the spheres of his influence in contemporary Iranian art: from the founding of the “Fighting Cock (Khorus Jangi)” association and the staging of influential domestic and international exhibitions, to teaching and nurturing new generations, cultural management and consultancy in museums and ministries, and extensive research travels throughout Iran to record indigenous clothing, motifs, and rituals. This list has been compiled based on existing documents and records and covers the period from 1945 to 1999. It is hoped that this index will guide researchers and lovers of Iranian culture in gaining a more precise understanding of his exalted standing.
Founding and Institution-Building
1948 and 1949 — Establishment of an art atelier; formation of the “Fighting Cock” art association and publication of a magazine of the same name
1953 — Founder of the Girls’ and Boys’ Schools of Visual Arts of Tehran, at the request of the General Administration of Fine Arts of the Country
1953 — Preparer of the preliminaries for the establishment of the Faculty of Decorative Arts
Solo Exhibitions
1950 — Holding solo painting exhibitions with the support of the “Fighting Cock” art association at the Ferdowsi Theater hall (Tehran)
Group Exhibitions (Iran)
1945 — Participation in a group painting exhibition, Iran-Soviet Cultural Society (Tehran)
1950 — Participation in a group painting exhibition, Apadana Gallery and Kashaneh of Fine Arts (Tehran)
1956 — Participation in the group exhibition of the General Administration of Fine Arts of the Country (Tehran)
1958 — Participation in the Tehran Biennial, through the Ministry of Culture and Art
1960 — Participation in the Tehran Biennial, through the Ministry of Culture and Art
1966 — Participation in the regional exhibition of the Tehran Biennial, with the participation of Turkey and Pakistan, through the Ministry of Culture and Art
Biennials and International Events
1956 — Representative of Iran at the International Painting Exhibition Biennial (Venice – Italy)
1956 — Participation in the “Venice” international exhibition, through the General Administration of Fine Arts of the Country
1977 — Participation in exhibitions in China, Japan, Pakistan, Turkey, France, and Venice, through the Ministry of Culture and Art
Cultural and Administrative Responsibilities
1952 — Administrative collaboration with the General Administration of Fine Arts of the Country
1955 — Head of Cultural Relations and member of the Permanent Council of the Abyad Palace Museum
1956 — Head of Audiovisual Art Education (General Administration of Fine Arts)
1964 — Art consultant to the Organization of Art Pavilion Affairs
1964 — Collaboration with the Department of Tourism Attraction
1964 — Representative of the General Administration of Fine Arts in the art commissions of governmental and non-governmental organizations
1965 — Representative of the Ministry of Culture and Art in meetings of the Ministry of Education, for laying the groundwork and arranging programs in art and handicrafts
1966 — Director of the Museum of Anthropology
1977 — Head of the Exhibitions Administration in the Administration of Museums
1977 — Representative of the Ministry of Culture and Art in the group for examining the artistic issues of Iran at the University of Tehran
1978 — Head of the Artists’ Center (chosen from among the examiners of artistic issues)
Commissions and Councils
1953 — Participation in all art commissions and pursuit of studies
1962 — Representative of the General Administration of Fine Arts of the Country in meetings of the National Committee of Visual Arts (affiliated with Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO)
1962 — Representative of the General Administration of Fine Arts of the Country in the stamp commissions of the General Post Administration of Iran, and collaboration in creating designs for new stamps
1962 — Permanent representative in commissions related to assistance for artists’ studios
International Representations and Participations
1966 — Representative of the Ministry of Culture and Art in meetings of the executive committee of the Montreal exhibition, Canada
1967 — Travel to Federal Germany, at the invitation of the host government, to visit that country’s cultural and artistic facilities
1967 — Travel to France, to supervise the exhibition of Iranian anthropology in Paris
Teaching and Academic Activities
1952 — Teaching art history and stylistics at the Kamal-ol-Molk Art School (Tehran)
1977 — Teaching the history of dress at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Tehran
1979 to 1999 — Teaching in art fields (painting, art history, sociology of art, and costume design) at the University of Art, Alzahra University, and Tarbiat Modares University, at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels
Field Research and Ethnography
1956 — Study of folk culture in Gilan Province and staging of an exhibition on the general condition of the people of that region at the Abyad Palace, at the request of the General Administration of Fine Arts of the Country
1956 — Research on ornamental motifs in the eastern and southern regions of Iran and travel to Sistan, Baluchestan, Kerman, Fars, and the islands; and, in total, three years of travel throughout Iran to research folk culture and art
1958 — Investigation and study of the lifestyle and art of the people of the Khorasan regions, and travel to that region over four years, for the purpose of staging an exhibition on the people of that area
1973 — Assigned to research at the Ferdowsi Shahnameh Foundation on clothing, martial equipment, and the manner of their use on the basis of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh
1977 — Research on ornamental motifs across the expanse from southwestern to northwestern and central Iran (the northern provinces, Khuzestan, Lorestan, Kurdistan, Kermanshahan, Hamadan, Azerbaijan, and desert regions)
Research Travels and Missions
1967 — Study trip to Federal Germany (official invitation) to visit cultural and artistic facilities
1967 — Travel to France to supervise the exhibition of Iranian anthropology in Paris
1977 — Travels connected with participation in international exhibitions (China, Japan, Pakistan, Turkey, France, and Venice)
1956 — Three years of field journeys throughout Iran for research into folk culture and art
Awards and Honors
1945 — Third-class Medal of Art (Iran-Soviet Cultural Society, Tehran)
1960 — First Prize of the Tehran Biennial and Gold Medal (through the Ministry of Culture and Art)
Lectures
The complete list and the text of each title are available on the “Lectures” page.
Interviews
The complete list and the text of each title are available on the “Interviews” page.
Publications
To view the complete list, refer to the “Publications” page.
Digital versions (PDF and Word) are being prepared and will gradually be made available for download by the end of December 2025. In total, 12 volumes of books in the fields of clothing and the history of art in Iran and the world will be published.
Note on Sources
This chronology has been prepared on the basis of the reliable sources available, including archival documents, exhibition reports and catalogues, contemporary publications, and official correspondence and decrees.
Compilation and editing: Mahsha Ziapour
Last updated: November 2025
