Amal was born in Persia (Iran) in April 1963, the sixth child of an army colonel. His early years unfolded in Tehran, a city alive with culture and history, until the revolution forced his family into exile when he was just 14. Uprooted and resettled as refugees in the United Kingdom, Amal found solace and expression in art—a passion that would shape his life.
He qualified as a graphic designer in 1985, but painting remained his true calling. Over the years, Amal’s work has been exhibited extensively in the United Kingdom, United States, Austria, and South Africa, and now forms part of private and public collections around the world, including the United Nations, British Telecom, Mount Charles Group, and the National Australia Bank. Since 2003, South Africa has been his new home, where he continues to create and inspire.
“My artworks represent my travels and many moments in time,” Amal explains. “I have painted throughout my life and feel compelled to express my journey in colour, texture, and form. These mediums connect to the soul and the spiritual essence of what we see around us: earth, water, and light.”
For Amal, painting is both therapy and revelation—a process of putting paint to canvas, spreading, smudging, and scraping, allowing both intention and accident to shape each piece. “Creating my work is an expression of a moment in time, produced on purpose through a combination of a few accidental movements.” Through his art, Amal invites us to pause, reflect, and find joy in the beauty of the present moment.
