About

KHALIL NIKNEJADI was born on November 16th, 1944, in the historical city of Esfahan in Iran. After finishing his primary education, he attended the Art Institute of Esfahan to complete his secondary education. Khalil was also schooled by his grandfather–an expert in the art of woodworking. He was able to learn all the challenges of woodcarving from his grandfather.

Khalil’s grandfather, Art Master Saniei, was a great inspiration for all his students. In 1960s, Art Master Saniei was the winner of silver medal from Brussel’s Fine Art Festival in Belgium. He was one of the virtuosos of artwork in wood, and Khalil had the chance to spend hours in his workshop to practice. After graduating from The Art Institute in Esfahan, Khalil moved to Tehran to continue his education at the University of Fine Arts in Tehran. In pursuit of his degree, he became proficient in many fields such as sculpting, painting, and graphic design. He graduated with a degree in interior design.

After finishing his studies at the University of Fine Arts, he traveled to France and researched art and art history at different museums and institutions. In his return, he established his workshop near Tehran. For forty years, he put his efforts into remodeling classic houses. Ordinarily, he designed and assembled each segment for remodels in his studio. The most notable are his works for the Parliament of Iran in the 70s. In the hight of his career, he furnished the office of president of Senate. Later, he designed and built three seats/thrones for the inauguration of the Iran Parliament. These works remind every Iranian of the glory of the Persepolis.

In the year 2000, he traveled to the United States and occupied himself with the creation of modern art. From 2007 to 2011, he made a unique collection of abstract sculptures in various stones that were showcased in the Seyhoun Art Gallery in Los Angeles. Since 2015 he has been working on a collection of mirrors inspired by the 19th-century glass painted Persian mirrors that have been exhibited twice in Los Angeles. He painstakingly studies the motifs and styles of the past century artists and hand-paints the mirror, and he finds it most rewarding.