Biography

Mahmoud Baghaeian

Mahmoud Baghaeian was born into an Iranian family of artists.   He studied carpet and tile design as well as painting and sculpture. In 1978, he moved to Canada. After studying engineering, he discovered clay and enrolled in a ceramic program. With his first major exhibition in 1990 he made a dramatic debut on the Montreal art scene. His work is characterized by fluid, Persian-inspired designs and refined, classical forms: each piece is a painting as much as a sculpture, an ancient relic as much as a contemporary art object. Baghaeian is the recipient of numerous grants and awards. He has exhibited widely, and his work is in public, private and corporate collections all over the world. In 1999, he was elected to the International Academy of Ceramics. (IAC)

CERAMICS EDUCATION

  • 1989-90 Banff Centre for the Arts (Banff, Alberta)
  • 1987 Raku Workshop with Russel Kagan (Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1985-87 Ceramic studies at John Abbott College (Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
  • 1984 Ceramic course with Jim Thompson (Ottawa, Ontario)
  • 1979-84 Carlton University School of Engineering (Ottawa, Ontario)
  • 1983 Introduction to ceramics with Mimi Cabri (Ottawa, Ontario)
  • 1975-77 Painting & sculpture workshops at the Caspian Sea Art Camps (summer sessions)
  • 1974 Persian Carpet & Tileworks Design at the Isphahan Academy of Arts (Isphahan, Iran)

AWARDS AND GRANTS

  • 2017 Tucker’s prize for Ceramics, Toronto Outdoor Arts Exhibition (Toronto, Ont).
  • 2006 Tehran Ceramic Biennial – First Award in Craftsmanship and Design Categories
  • 1999, 2000, 2002-2004 Canada Council for the Arts – Travel Grant
  • 2000-2003 Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec – Travel Grant
  • 1997 First Prize for Decorative Ceramics 1001 Pots Exhibition (Val-David, Quebec)
  • 1995 Honorable Mention & Public’s Choice Award Japanese Tea Bowl Competition (Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1977 Scholarship to Norway Norwegian International Art Competition (Tehran, Iran)
  • 1975 Third Prize, First Decade of White Revolution Painting Competition (Tehran, Iran)

MEMBERSHIPS

  • 1999 International Academy of Ceramics (Geneva, Switzerland)
  • 1999 Conseil des métiers d’art du Québec (Montréal, Quebec)
  • 1996 RAAV (Regroupement des artistes en arts visuels du Québec (Montreal, Quebec)

TEACHING AND LECTURING

  • 2006 Guest Speaker : Slide lecture on Ceramics:
    Yazd City Hall, Yazd, Iran
  • 2006 Guest Speaker : Slide lecture on Ceramics
    Kargahe Honar (Art Institute) Tehran,Iran
  • 2002 Slide lecture and demonstrations:
    The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, USA
  • 2002 Guest Artist in Residence:
    The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, USA
  • 2002 Guest speaker:
    Slide lecture(Int’l slide forum) NCECA 2001 Kansas City, MO, USA
  • 2001 Slide lecture and discussion on personal work at NCECA 2001 Charlotte, NC, USA
  • 2000 Slide lecture and discussion on personal work at NCECA 2000, Denver, Colorado, USA
  • 1994 Guest speaker: slide lecture on ceramics Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (Tehran, Iran)
  • 1992 Workshop, Community Centre (Town of Mount Royal, Quebec)
  • 1992 Workshop, Edna Manley School for the Visual Arts (Kingston Jamaica)
  • 1989 Assistant teacher, Community Course Banff Centre for the Arts (Banff, Alberta)

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

  • 2024 IAC-Members Exhibition and Conference, Alcobaca / Caldas da Rainha, Portugal
  • 2022 IAC-“The Age of Incluence: north American Artist-members’ Exhibition” Geneva, Switzerland
  • 2018 IAC-Member’s exhibition New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taiwan
  • 2017 IAC-Member’s exhibition, Museum of Design, Barcelona SPAIN
  • 2016, 2017 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, CANADA
  • 2012 IAC- Member’s exhibition New Mexico Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico USA
  • 2010 IAC – Membrus exhibition MUSÉE NATIONAL DE CÉRAMIQUE DE SÈVRE2010 IAC, Member’s exhibition Musée national de céramique de Sèvres: Sèvres – Cité de la céramique Paris, France
  • 2008 International contemporary ceramic exhibition, Jingdezhen, China
  • 2008 IAC, Member’s exhibition, Xi`an, China
  • 2008 Collection d’été, Studio Georgeville, Georgeville Qc. Canada
  • 2007 31st Annual Philadelphia museum of art Craft Show, (Philadelphia, PA)
  • 2007 Palm Beach 3 Contempary Photography Art & Design Art Fair(Palm Beach Fl.)
  • 2006 Teheran Ceramic Biennale, (Teheran, Iran)
  • 2006 The Third International Ceramic Tile Triennial (Elite-tile 2006) Museum of modern art (mam), Santo Domingo, Dominican republic
  • 2006 IAC-Member`s exhibition, (Traveling show) Riga, Latvia-Tallinn, Estonia & Vilnius, Lithuania
  • 2006 Under the azure dome (Persian-Canadian visual arts exhibition) Harbour Front Cultural Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • 2005 BOWL, Centre de Céramique Bonsecours, Montréal, Québec, Canada
  • 2004 IAC Member’s Exhibition, World Ceramics Exposition Foundation, Korea
  • 2004 Ariana Museum, (Museum of Clay and Glass), Geneva, Switzerland
  • 2003 Douzième biennale de céramique contemporaine de Châteauroux – Musée des Cordeliers, Chateauroux, France
  • 2003 Collection d’été, Centre de Céramique Bonsecours, Montréal, Québec, Canada
  • 2003 Made at the CLay Studio: The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, USA
  • 2002 Winter Fest 2002, Baltimore Clay Works, Baltimore, MD, USA
  • 2002 Mastery in Clay, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, USA
  • 2002 Collection d’été Centre de Céramique Bonsecours, Montréal, Québec, Canada
  • 2002 IAC – Member’s 50th Anniversary exhibition, Athens, Greece
  • 2002 Kansas City meets Quebec, Hyatt Regency Crown Center, Kansas City, MO. (Part of NCECA Conference 2002) Traveling exhibition presented at the Galerie des métiers d’art du Québec in Montreal (May 9 – June 9) and Musée Haut-Richelieu, St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Quebec. (June 26 – Aug. 26)
  • 2001 IAC – Member’s exhibition, World Ceramics Exposition, Ichon, Korea.
  • 2001 Les Grands Buffets, The Clay studio, Philadelphia, USA
  • 2001 Au Présent-Contemporary Quebec ceramics, Musée Haut-Richelieu, St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Quebec.
  • 2001 A Moment in Time, a Place in Space – Contemporary Quebec Ceramics, Queens Gallery and Art Center, Charlotte, NC, U.S.A.
  • 2001 Dinner Works 2001, Louisville Visual Art Association, Louisville, Kentuky
  • 2000 IAC – Members’ exhibition, Keramion (Museum of Contemporary Ceramics) Frechen, Germany
  • 2000 ‘Plural Readings’ – Contemporary Quebec Ceramics, Musée régional de St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, work by members of the Quebec Craft Council
  • 2000 ‘Plural Readings’ – Contemporary Quebec Ceramics, Art History Gallery, University of Colorado – organized by The Quebec Cratfs Council as part of NCECA 2000, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
  • 1999 Ovaisy Gallery (Emeryvile, California)
  • 1998 A Sampling of Contemporary Quebec Ceramics, Stewart Hall Gallery (Pointe-Claire, Québec)
  • 1995-& 1997 Prime Gallery (Toronto, Ontario)
  • 1989-1999 1001 Pots (Annual event) La Galerie Kinya Ishikawa (Val-David, Quebec)
  • 1994 Clay and Glass Gallery (Waterloo, Ontario)
  • 1994 Jean Carsley Interiors (Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1992 Saidye Bronfman Centre ( Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1992 & 1994 Museum of Contemporary Art (Tehran, Iran)
  • 1991-1992 The Flames & Fire Event (Blainville, Quebec)
  • 1992 San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A.)
  • 1991 Farfelu, Visual Arts Centre (Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1988 & 1991 Galerie Barbara Silverberg, Contemporary Ceramics (Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1991 RAKU, Lynda Greenberg Gallery (Ottawa, Ontario)
  • 1991 Persian Colours, Strathearn Cultural Centre (Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1987-1990 Annual May Art Exhibition (Vankleek Hill, Ontario)
  • 1989 The Canadian Guild of Crafts (Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1988 45 Canadian artists, Lee Scalar Gallery (Morristown, New Jersey, U.S.A.)
  • 1988 Dimension in Art, International Design Centre (Old Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1987 Centre de céramique Bonsecours (Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1986 Senior Show, John Abbott College (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec)
  • 1986 Ufundi Gallery (Ottawa, Ontario)
  • 1986 Galerie Les Artisans du Meuble québécois (Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1977 Series of Reliefs (marble carving), Yazd City Hall (Yazd, Iran)

DUO EXHIBITIONS

  • 2017 Marlik art gallery (Yazd, Iran)
  • 1991 Galerie L’empreinte (Old Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1990 Stewart Hall Art Gallery, Pointe-Claire Cultural Centre (Pointe-Claire, Quebec)
  • 1990 Banff Centre for the Arts (Banff, Alberta)
  • 1989 Visual Arts Centre (Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1987 Galerie Barbara Silverberg, Contemporary Ceramics (Montreal, Quebec)

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

  • 2008 MEKIC Gallery,  Montreal Qc. Canada
  • 2006 Bounty Gallery (Harbour Front Cultural Center ,Toronto Ontario, Canada
  • 1998 Hourian Fine Arts Gallery (San Francisco, California)
  • 1994 BARG Gallery (Tehran, Iran)
  • 1993 Calixa Lavallée Centre (Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1992 Classic Gallery (Isphahan, Iran)
  • 1991 Gallery 89, John Abbott College (Ste. Anne-de Bellevue, Quebec)

Radio & Television interviews

2018Ava TV, Montreal,CANADA
2007 BBC Persian Radio, Montreal, CANADA
2007 &2008Radio Chacavac (Montreal’s Iranian community radio, Montreal CANADA
2006Yazd Television (On my courier in the west), Yazd,  IRAN
2003CBC radio, (on state of fine craft in Montreal) Montreal, CANADA
1997(RFI) Radio France International (on wining the 1st prize at 1001 pots exhibition, Val David, Qc. ),  Montreal CANADA
1992Radio Isphahan (jonge honar program), Isphahan, IRAN
1992Jamaican national television, Kingston, Jamaica
1989Radio free Banff,  Banff center, Banff Alberta, CANADA
1977Radio Yazd ( on low relief sculpture)   Yazd, IRAN

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
(RECENT BOOKS AND MAGAZINES)

  • Revista International Ceramica, Madrid, Spain, No.139, 2015
  • Reveista internacional Ceramica, Number 114, 2009
  • Making Marks By Robin Hopper Krause publication, USA, 2004
  • Contemporary Studio Porcelain (second edition) By Peter Lane
  • A&C Black . London /University of Pennsylvania Press. Pennsylvania, 2003
  • The Craft and Art of Clay (Forth Edition) By Susan Peterson-Jan Peterson
  • The Overlook Press, Woodstock & New York, 2003
  • The Ceramic Spectrum (Second Edition) By Robin Hopper Krause publication,USA,2001
  • La revue de la céramique et du verre Number 131 July/augest 2003 and Number 132 September/October 2003 (French magazine)
  • Plaisirs de vivre (living with style) Volume 14 No 1 Montreal, March/April 2003

SELECTED PUBLIC & CORPORATE COLLECTIONS

  • 2022 Birmingham Museum of Fine Arts, Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.A.
  • 2018 New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taiwan
  • 2018 Racine Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
  • 2016 Argentona Museum of Ceramics, Catalonia, Spain
  • 2012 San Angelo Museum of fine Arts, Texas, U.S.A.
  • 2010 Musée National de céramique de Sèvres: Sèvres – Cité de la céramique Paris, France
  • 2008 Sanbao ceramic art institute, Jingdezhen, China
  • 2008 Fule international ceramic art museum, Fuping, China
  • 2006 Museum of Contemporary ceramics, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • 2006 Museum of applied arts, Riga, Latvia
  • 2001-2006 Loto-Quebec Corporate Collection, Montreal, Canada
  • 2002 Benaki Museum, Athens, Greece
  • 2002 The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, USA
  • 2001 World Ceramic Exposition foundation , Ichon, Korea
  • 2000 & 2004 Ariana Museum, (Museum of Clay and Glass), Geneva, Switzerland
  • 2000 Keramion (Museum of Contemporary Ceramics) Frechen, Germany
  • 1999 City of Pointe-Claire, Stewart Hall (Pointe-Claire, Quebec)
  • 1999 Placerdome Gold Company (Toronto, Ontario)
  • 1996-1999 Canadian External Affairs Collection: Work in Canadian embassies in Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Jamaica
  • 1994 Museum of Contemporary Art (Tehran, Iran)
  • 1992 The Oswald Harding Collection (Kingston, Jamaica)
  • 1991 John Abbott College (Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec)
  • 1990 The General Consulate of Japan (Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1988 Burlington Cultural Centre (Burlington, Ontario)
  • 1988 Future Electronics (Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1988 The Royal Bank of Canada (Montreal, Quebec)
  • 1987 Seagram Limited (Montreal, Quebec)

Works in private collections in Asia,
Europe, and the Americas