The first solo exhibition of paintings by Roya Akhavan in New York City will be on view at Leila Taghinia-Milani Heller (LTMH) Gallery from October 14 through November 7, 2009. Roya Akhavan: Nexus will feature 13 new paintings and is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue with an essay by curator Sam Bardaouil. A reception for the artist will be held on October 14 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Roya Akhavan’s canvases of bold color and infinite patterns are populated by miniature figures playfully intertwined with curved ribs of arabesque shapes in the Persian tradition. The compositions, with complex layers of pattern upon pattern, reveal hand-sized faceless figures in motion. Larger, individual figures shimmer through the imagery and fade into the background, providing an enigmatic glimpse into a mysterious narrative. Evolving around universal battles that follow no iconographic or historical code, the interplay between the rigidity of the geometric patterns and the fluidity of the battles presents a paradox between order and unpredictability.

Many of the works in this new series evolve around the circle. In Nexus, each canvas lifts an element from the one that precedes it, forging a visual chain and an endless procession. Within Akhavan’s compellingly complex visual vocabulary, the eternal battle of harmony and chaos is both examined and waged.

Roya Akhavan, 56, was born in Tehran, Iran. The artist’s work has been on view at the Chelsea Art Museum in New York City in the 2009 show Iran Inside Out. Akhavan’s work has been exhibited in Iran, Europe, and the United States.