With the exhibition “Colours in Motion”, Galerie Barbara von Stechow presents a selection of new works by Cologne-based artist Alireza Varzandeh, known for his powerful visual language that bridges abstraction and figuration. In his paintings, Varzandeh captures fleeting moments — urban scenes, everyday encounters, or atmospheric beach settings — pausing them briefly, only to set them in motion again the next instant.
His work is characterized by expressive colors, light-filled compositions, and a dynamic brushstroke. Born in Tehran in 1963, Varzandeh has lived in Germany since 1985 and currently works in both Cologne and Valencia. After studying design in Tehran, he pursued fine arts at the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne, where he graduated in 1992 as a master student of Professor Karl Marx. His artistic path includes time spent in New York, numerous international exhibitions — including at the Museum of Modern Art in Tehran — and the opening of a second studio in Spain.
Varzandeh’s paintings thrive on contrasts: proximity and distance, motion and stillness. His figures — fragmented, in motion, and often anonymous — resemble snapshots of fleeting everyday moments. Color and form seem to dance across the canvas, creating works that radiate both vitality and a quiet, aesthetic calm. In this painterly balance, a space opens up for personal projections, memories, and subtle nuances. His compositions invite viewers to shift between perception and interpretation, sparking an engaging dialogue between image and observer — where painting becomes a mirror of social dynamics.
