Dr. Ali Asghar Kalantar
Editor-in-Chief and Founder, PhD, Artist
Ali Asghar Kalantar Bio
Ali Asghar Kalantar began his education by earning a Bachelor’s degree in Handicrafts and then continued his studies at the Master’s level in Art Research. Ultimately, he expanded his expertise in various artistic and research fields by obtaining a Ph.D. in Comparative and Analytical Studies of Art. He is currently a faculty member at the Faculty of Art and Architecture at the University of Mazandaran. His scientific activities focus on Islamic art and architecture, the art of Iranian women artists, and theoretical studies of art. To date, he has written six books and published more than thirteen individual and co-authored scientific and research articles on various topics such as Iranian and Islamic art and architecture, and women’s studies.
Professional and Artistic Experience
As a faculty member of the Faculty of Art and Architecture at the University of Mazandaran, Ali Asghar Kalantar has been active in various artistic fields, especially photography, and is engaged in teaching and research in these areas. In addition to nine years of teaching at the University of Mazandaran, he has over twenty years of teaching experience at various other universities, where he has taught a range of subjects including Comparative Art Studies, Traditional Arts, Photography, and more at both undergraduate and graduate levels. During this time, he has supervised and advised over fourteen Master’s theses. His experience includes conducting seven research projects, holding more than ten educational workshops, and participating in seven national exhibitions.
Awards and Honors
- Winner of the first prize in the National Train Travel Photography Competition by the Iranian National Railway Company in the amateur section.
- Winner of the third prize and a certificate of appreciation from the National Festival of Digital Media.
Exhibition Activities
- Curator of two national visual arts exhibitions in Iran on social and women’s issues.
- Curator of three international photography exhibitions in Italy, featuring more than 100 Iranian women artists.
Managerial Activities
- Founder and director of the cultural and artistic media Festivart. This media platform introduces international art and literature events and opportunities, facilitating the presence of emerging Iranian figures on the global stage.
- Founder and director of the website WoArt for Iranian women artists at woart.ir. This platform acts as a stage for introducing and supporting Iranian women artists.
- Founder and director of the international art magazine Artism(the same site). This magazine publishes articles about Iranian art and introduces emerging artists through online publications and offers a digital version on Amazon’s international marketplace.
These activities and experiences reflect his passion and commitment to expanding the cognitive boundaries of art and supporting emerging artists.