86-year-old Iranian painter’s works on display in Brussels

Reza Laal Riahi

Iranian painter Reza Laal Riahi completed 86 years of his life last September. He was born in Mashhad on September 26, 1918 but has been living since 1963 in Brussels, where he creates oil paintings.

Six of his paintings were recently put on display in an art exhibition in the Wezembeek-Oppem suburb of Brussels.

“I paint everything and all subjects, portraits, scenery animals,” Riahi told IRNA.

A former colonel in the Iranian Army, Riahi studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Tehran and taught there from 1953-1960.

Riahi is also an accomplished sculptor. His Iran-made sculpture, ‘Mountaineer Statue’, is still on display in Darband, north of Tehran.

In 1947, he enrolled at a military school in Belgium where he met a Belgian lady who was later to become his wife. They now have two daughters and a son who are all living and working in Belgium.

In 1961 he published a book on his paintings — The painting Collection of Reza Laal Riahi — and opened a website on his activities (www.laalriahi.com).

“I feel deeply honored,” Rihai told IRNA in the presence of Iranian Ambassador to Belgium Ali Ahani during the opening ceremony of the exhibition Friday night.

The 3-day art exhibition was organized by the municipality of Wezembeek-Oppem.


The author: Michel THEYS

Michel Theys, a Belgian native, began his career as a civil servant, serving the public for several decades. After retirement, he shifted gears to follow his passion for journalism. With a background in public administration, Theys brought a unique perspective to his reporting. His insightful articles, covering a wide array of topics, swiftly gained recognition. Today, Michel Theys is a respected journalist known for his balanced and thoughtful reporting in the Belgian media landscape.

Related posts

Leave a Comment