Leyly Matine-Daftary (1937–2007) was an Iranian modernist artist and art educator. She was based in both Tehran and Paris. Matine-Daftary was best known for her flat paintings that highlighted simplicity but still expressed emotions.

Biography

Leyly Matine-Daftary was born in 1937 in Tehran, Imperial State of Iran (now known as Iran). Her father, Ahmad Matin-Daftari, was Prime Minister of Iran, as was one of her grandfathers, Mohammad Mossadegh. After completing her elementary education in Tehran, she attended Cheltenham Ladies' College. She obtained a Fine Arts degree from the Slade School of Fine Art before returning to Tehran in the late 1950s. From 1960 until 1956 she lectured on sculpture and sculpting at the Fine Arts Faculty of Tehran University. Matine-Daftary was involved in the early Tehran Biennial and in the Shiraz Arts Festival, for which she created iconic identifying materials. Matine-Daftary died in Paris on 17 April 2007.

Exhibitions