Rapture- Large B&W Photograph mounted on plexiglass, 2007

Iran Issa-Khan  

Rapture Framed 42" x 84" C-Print B&W Photograph 2007. 

This ethereal artwork showcases a delicate, serene depiction of a white lily, rendered almost entirely in soft, muted tones of white and pale gray. The flower's petals are intricately layered, creating a sense of depth and dimension while maintaining an air of subtle fragility. Lightly shadowed contours elegantly define the petals, emphasizing their gentle curves and flawless edges. The central stamens subtly emerge, adding a focal point to the composition without disrupting its tranquil harmony. This piece masterfully employs minimalism to evoke purity and peace, inviting viewers to appreciate the understated beauty in its simplicity. Its nearly monochromatic palette and gentle gradation of tones conjure a dreamlike ambiance, making it a striking example of serene, contemplative art. The fusion of precision and delicacy in this work speaks to the artist’s skill in capturing the grace and elegance of natural forms.

Born in Tehran and raised in Europe and the United States, Iran, Issa-Khan began her photography career in the late 1970s studying with William Minor, Jr. Throughout the 80’s and 90’s, Issa-Khan photographed Paulina Porizkova, Christy Turlington, Iman, Andie Mac Dowell, Debbie Dickinson Talisa Soto, and other supermodels whose images have appeared on the covers of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle and in numerous editorials and advertising campaigns in the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Her portrait retrospective includes designers and their families such as Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass, the Ferragamo family, the Fendi family, Prince Egon and Diane von Furstenberg, Carolina and Reinaldo Herrera, and Paloma Picasso. Issa-Khan also photographed Ms. Picasso’s international advertising campaigns. She photographed Nancy Reagan at the White House as well as The Duke and Duchess of Marlborough at Blenheim Palace, President and Mrs. Pastrana of Colombia, Baron David and Baroness Olympia de Rothschild in Paris, and Rufino Tamayo in Mexico. In 1999, Issa-Khan transitioned from photographing beautiful people and celebrities to flowers and objects of nature. Her new photographic work has captured the sensuality of flowers, tropical plants, seashells, and numerous flora and fauna objects, immediately translating their natural beauty into sensuous art forms. Her recent images are reminiscent of the works of Georgia O‘Keeffe, Tina Modotti, and Robert Mapplethorpe. Through her photographs, Iran Issa-Khan shares their intense admiration and daringly close-up confrontation with intimate detail. She invites us to share her vision in a quiet space where one loses themselves to the sensuality of creation.