Amir Esmi
Graphic Designer,
Visual Artist, Art Director

Brief Bio

Amir Esmi, born in 1973 in Tehran, is a freelance graphic designer, visual artist and art director. He has successfully completed an MBA in art and is a well-known artist in the field of graphic design for theatre. He has more than two decades of experience in more than seventy theatre projects with renowned directors such as Hamid Samandarian and Mohammad Yaghoubi. He is a member of the Iranian Graphic Designers Society (IGDS), a principal member of the “In Rooz-ha” Theatre Group, an honorary member of the Nowadays Theatre (Toronto, Canada) and a founding member of the Iranian Theatre Poster Designers Society. His works have been exhibited and praised in several festivals and exhibitions in centres such as the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, the Iranian Artists Forum and various galleries, and published in numerous magazines and books. Amir Esmi has directed and curated dozens of different art events and has been a jury member in many festivals and art competitions. He has been working in his personal studio since 1996 and also collaborating with cultural and artistic centres.

Exhibitions

• Shomal az Shomal-e Gharbi (North by Northwest), Hoo Art Gallery, Tehran, 2019.
• Labkhand-e Bashokooh-e Agha-ye Radi (The Glorious Smile of Mr. Radi), Aria Art Gallery, Tehran, 2018.
• Amoo Kambiz (Uncle Kambiz), Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran, 2016.
• Didevar, Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran, 2016.
• Tamasha (Watching), Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran, 2015.
• Tamasha (Watching), Koomesh Cultural Centre, Semnan, 2015.
• Mana, Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran, 2015.
• Ghab-haye 40 Sale (Forty-Year Frames), City Theater of Tehran, 2013.
• Theater Posters 1969-2009, Laleh Art Gallery, Tehran, 2013.
• Parde-ye Nokhost (First Act), Abolfazl Aali Art Gallery, Tehran, 2013.
• Celebrating World Theater Day, Iranian Theater Forum, Tehran, 2012.
• Namayesh-Nama, Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran, 2011.
• Ghab-haye Mandegar (Enduring Frames), Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran, 2011.
• Hamid Samandarian: In Sahne Khane-ye Man Ast (Hamid Samandarian: This Stage Is My Home), Iranshahr Theater, Tehran, 2010.
• The 7^th exhibition of “Tassvir-e Sal”, Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran, 2010.
• Ci-Po, Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran, 2010.
• Fifty Theater Posters of Ten Graphic Designers, Molavi Hall, Tehran, 2009.
• The 10^th Tehran International Poster Biennial, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran, 2009.
• 25 Years of Iranian Theater Posters, Saba Art and Cultural Institute, Tehran, 2008.
• The 6^th Biennial of Iranian Graphic Designers, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran, 1999.

Presentations

• Specialized Meeting of Visual Identity in Theater Groups—Leev Theater Group, with the presence of Amir Esmi, Mohammad Hasan Majouni, Sasan Pirooz, Behrad Javanbakht, Saleh Tasbihi, with the performance of Ahmad Gholami; Masoudieh Palace, Tehran, 16. Jan. 2016.
• Specialized Meeting of Visual Identity in Theater Groups—Tazeh Theater Group, with the presence of Amir Esmi, Ashkan Kheilnejad, Yousef Bapiri, Houtan Shakiba, Arman Kouchaki, with the execution of Ahmad Gholami; Masoudieh Palace, Tehran, 14. Jan. 2016.
• Specialized forum on Theater Posters in Urban Spaces, with the presence of Amir Esmi, Yahya Sasani, Farshad Houshyar, Hojat Tarssodi, Mohsen Valihi, Javad Atashbari, with the performance of Amir Esmi; Iranian Artists Forum, Amirkhani Hall, Tehran, 29. Apr. 2013.
• A Look at Theatre Poster in Iran, with the presence of Amir Esmi, Hamid Samandarian, Ebrahim Haghighi, Mohammad Yaghoubi, with the performance of Arash Tanhayi, Iranian Artists Forum, Beethoven Hall, Tehran, 2. May. 2011.

Artworks Published in Books and Magazines

• Didevar, Tehran: Dramatic Arts Center of Iran, 2017.
• “Paragraph”, Dramatic Arts Monthly, Volume 3, Tehran, Apr.-May 2016
• Tamasha (Watching), Tehran: Dramatic Arts Center of Iran, 2016.
• Mana, Tehran: Dramatic Arts Center of Iran, 2015.
• Naqsh-e Avval (First Role), Tehran: Dramatic Arts Center of Iran, 2014.
• Parde-ye Nokhost (First Act), Tehran: Dramatic Arts Center of Iran, 2013.
• Ketab-e Kanoon, Theater Directors Society Magazine, Tehran, Sep. 2012.
• Namayesh Nama, Iranian Theater Poster Designers Society Quarterly, volume 2 & 3, Tehran, summer and autumn, 2011.
• Namayesh Nama, Iranian Theater Poster Designers Society Quarterly, volume 1, Tehran, spring, 2011.
• Ghab-haye Mandegar (Memorable Frames), Tehran: Dramatic Arts Center of Iran, 2011.
• Hamid Samandarian: In Sahne Khane-ye man ast, Exhibition Book, Tehran, 2010.
• In Sahne Khane-ye man ast, Teheran: Qatreh, 2010.
• Ci-Po, Tehran: Dramatic Arts Center of Iran, 2010.
• “Tassvir-e Sal”, Nr. 7, Tehran, 2010.
• 50 Poster-e Theater az 10 Tarrah-e Graphic (Fifty Theater Posters of Ten Graphic Designers), Tehran: Hoonia, 2009.
• “Neshan”, Iranian Graphic Design Magazine, volume 7, Tehran, 2006
• Ketab-e Neshane (The Sign Book), Tehran: Yasavoli, 2002.
• Contemporary Graphic of Iran: A Selection of Works Presented at the 6th Biennial of Iranian Graphic Designers, Tehran: Visual Art Association, 1999.

In the Media 

• Guest as an expert on the live TV show Cheshm-e Shab Roshan, hosts: Mohammad Saleh Ala and Dr. Mehrdad Rayani-Makhsous, IRIB TV4, Apr. 28, 2018.
• Guest as an expert on the live TV program Naghd-e Theater (theater criticism), host: Ataollah Koupal, IRIB TV4, Jan. 24, 2016.
• Guest as an expert on the live radio show Fanoos, Radio Namayesh, 14 Jan. 2015.
• Guest as an expert on the live TV program Majalle-ye Theater (theater journal), host: Manoochehr Akbarlou, IRIB TV4, October 22, 2014.
• Searchable in the culture and arts topics on websites of ISNA News Agency, Mehr News Agency, ILNA News Agency, FARS News Agency, TASNIM News Agency, Khabar Online, Jam-e Jam Online, Hamshahri Online, Iran Theater, Shargh Newspaper, Honar Online, Tabnak, Rang Magazine, Aftab News, ANA News Agency, Cinema Press, Cinema Cinema, and other websites.

Honors and Awards 

• Nominated for the poster prize of the 33rd Fadjr International Theater Festival, for “Death of a Salesman” poster design, Jury: Ghobad Shiva, Ali Khosravi, Alireza Ghaffari; Tehran, 2015.
• Nominated for the poster prize of the 31st Fadjr International Theater Festival, for “Thirty-three percent Neil Simon” poster design, jury: Ebrahim Haghighi, Amir Esbati, Mahdi Mahdian; Tehran, 2013.
• Certificate of thanks from the Iranian Playwrights Association, Tehran, 2011.
• Nominated for the poster prize of the 29th Fadjr International Theater Festival, for “The Swine Flu” poster design, Tehran, 2011.
• Certificate of Acknowledgment of the 29th Fadjr International Theater Festival, for “The Seventh Acting Night” poster design, Jury: Ghobad Shiva, Koorosh Parsanejad, Mahdi Fatehi; Tehran, 2011.
• Nominated for the poster prize of the 28th Fadjr International Theater Festival, for “The Nightmares of a Cowardly Traitor Retired Old Man” poster design, Jury: Ali Rafiei, Masoud Sepehr, Bahram Kalhornia; Tehran, 2010.
• Certificate of Appreciation at the 10th Tehran international Poster Biennial, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran, 2009.
• Certificate of Appreciation from the Association of Actors of the Iranian Theater Forum, Tehran, 2009.
• Selected from the collection of the best theater posters after the revolution at the 21st Fadjr International Theater Festival, for “’Night, Mother” poster design (1997), Jury: Hossein Khosrowjerdi, Mohsen Shah Ebrahimi, Mohammad Reza Sharifinia; Tehran, 2001.

Jury Membership in Art Competitions 

• 2022: Member of the jury at the 40th Fadjr International Theater Festival, poster section.
• 2021: Member of the jury at the 39th Fadjr International Theater Festival, poster section.
• 2018: Member of the jury at the 36th Fadjr International Theater Festival, poster and visual identity section.
• 2016: Member of the jury at the 23rd international Theater Festival for Children & Youth (Hamedan, Iran), poster section.
• 2016: Member of the jury at the 34th Fadjr International Theater Festival, poster and visual identity section.
• 2015: Member of the jury at the 18th Iran International University Theater Festival, poster section.
• 2014: Member of the jury at the 17th Iran International University Theater Festival, poster section.
• 2014: Member of the jury at the 3rd City Theater Festival, poster section.
• 2014: Jury member at the 21st international Theater Festival for Children & Youth (Hamedan, Iran), poster section.
• 2014: Jury member at the 5th Omid Theater Festival, poster section.
• 2014: Member of the jury at the 32nd Fadjr International Theater Festival, poster section.

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Official member of the Iranian Graphic Designers Society (IGDS).
• Member of the founding board and member of the committee for the development of the statute of the Iranian Theater Poster Designers Society, 2010.
• Head of the Board of Directors of the Iranian Theater Poster Designers Society, 2012-2017.
• Main member of the In Rooz-ha Theater Group.
• Honorary member of Nowadays Theater Company, Toronto, Canada.
• A member of the Printing Union of Silk Screen.
• Manager of the Iranian Theater Forum Reform Workgroup, 2014-2015.
• Strategic planning manager of the Iranian Theater Forum and a member of the Strategic Plans Development Group, 2018.
• A member of the Policy-Making Council of the Omid Theater Festival, Tehran, 2013.
• Advisor to the Graphic Designing Unit in the first center for the specialized theater counseling center, Tehran, Mostaghel Theater Complex, Tehran, 2016.
• A member of the executive council of Akbar Radi Theater Festival, Tehran, 2018.
• Advisor to the development of the statute for awarding Akbar Radi medal and Medallion, 2018-2019.
• A member of the Policy-Making Council of Commemoration of Hamid Samandarian, Tehran, 2010.