Hossein Zende Roudi (born in 1957, Tehran), who is known as Charles Hossein Zende Roudi outside of Iran, is a contemporary Iranian painter. He is one of the founders of the Saqakhane School and one of the pioneers of calligraphy-painting in Iran using the symbols of traditional Iranian art as well as calligraphy, which has created a new method in visual arts of Iran. He studied in Tehran Academy of Fine Arts and created his first painting while studying at the academy. At the age of twenty-two, he moved to Paris and in 1961 and won a prize at Paris Biennale, received a scholarship and continued to study art. After immigrating and living in France as an avant-garde artist in 1961, he began new experiences and exhibited his collection at Milan Exhibition in Italy.
After graduation, he returned to Iran and exhibited his artworks in Kabood Studio. He is undoubtedly one of the most important figures of Saqakhane School, although in an interview with Tandis newspaper, he denied his relationship with Saqakhane and considers Saqakhane a synonymous with his name. He published an exquisite Quran with colorful designs by “Book Club” publisher in Paris In 1972, which won the “Most Beautiful Book of the Year in the World Book” award from UNESCO. His artworks are kept in several museums around the world.
Museum artworks
Tehran Museum of Contemporary Arts
Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art, Paris
George Pompidou Cultural Center
National Center of Contemporary Art, Paris
British Museum, London
Museum of Modern Art, New York
Aesthetic Research Center of Turin, Italy
Museum of Contemporary Art, Amman, Jordan
Statens Museum, Copenhagen
Museum of Fine Arts, Switzerland
Malmö Cultural Center, Sweden
Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg, Denmark