In The News

December 10, 2021

Alireza Shojaian’s art painted on a vintage Iranian Paykan car challenges Middle Eastern ideals of what it means to be a man | Toronto Star

To create his latest work in praise of Middle Eastern men, artist Alireza Shojaian traded pencil crayons and paper for an airbrush and a vintage car. Read More

December 10, 2021

LGBTQ+ Iranians Are Suffering and Dying While the World Yawns | The Advocate

Observing Human Rights Day every year on December 10 may pass people by without a moment's thought — another unnecessary day which no one is aware of and which goes by unnoticed. Read More

December 7, 2021

Iran International report by Mahsa Mortazavi: Start of PaykanArtCar Canadian Tour

November 29, 2021

PaykanArtCar Canadian Exhibit Advocates For Social Change In Iran | Samaritan Mag

The inaugural PaykanArtCar Canadian tour, which celebrates contemporary Iranian artists and advocates for social change in Iran, has kicked off. Read More

November 23, 2021

Artist Alireza Shojaian protests Iran’s anti-LGBTQ stance through his transformation of a vintage Iranian car | The Globe and Mail

The Paykan was painted by Iranian artist and activist Alireza Shojaian to give voice to LGBTQ+ people living in oppression in Iran. Read More

November 16, 2021

PaykanArtCar: A Driving Force Against Human Rights Abuses Tours Canada | ATRnews

How one Iranian artist used the iconic Paykan as a canvas for combatting persecution. Read More

November 11, 2021

وقتی پیکان بستر روایت رنج جامعه رنگین‌کمانی می‌شود

پروژه "پیکان آرت کار" از جشنواره "آسیای امروز" در پاریس حذف می‌شود. این اثر به گفته خالقش روایت رنجی است که بر کوئیرها در ایران روا می‌شود. این نقاش کوئیر ایرانی می‌گوید بار دیگر احساس می‌کند به حاشیه رانده شده است. Read More

November 1, 2021

New York Times: To Protest Iran’s Anti-Gay Abuses, an Artist Painted a Dictator’s Car | New York Times

“Wherever there is injustice, we need to talk about it,” Alireza Shojaian said. Read More

October 26, 2021

Time Magazine: Rolling out a new vehicle for human rights

October 22, 2021

Paykan Art Car Is Created to Support Iran’s LGBTQs; Paris Fair Cancels Display | KAYHAN LIFE

Paykan — the iconic automobile made in Iran — has been turned into an artwork by the Iranian artist Alireza Shojaian, in support of Iran’s LGBTQ community. The PaykanArtCar, unveiled at the Oslo Freedom Forum in Miami on Oct. 4, was due to be shown at the Asia Now fair in Paris this week. According to Shojaian and the PaykanArtCar organizers, the display was canceled at the request of Iran-based gallerists participating in the fair. Read More