Mehdi Ghadyanloo is best known for his site-specific, dreamlike murals full of socio-political symbolism. The minimalist compositions depict atmospheric scenes of people and architecture, with a soft colour palette of sandy tones that resemble the urban and rural landscape of Iran. Alongside his public art, Ghadyanloo works in his studio across printmaking, sculpture and painting on canvas. His detailed style evokes both western modernism and traditional Iranian motifs. In particular, Ghadyanloo uses trompe-l’oeil techniques to create powerful illusionary effects which play with light, space, depth, and perception. Having grown up during the Iran-Iraq war, Ghadyanloo’s personal experiences have had a lasting impact on his artistic practice. His oeuvre confronts challenging topics such as war, migration, the refugee crisis, environmental issues, and gender inequality.