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1. "Birds of Paradise" (2013) – $950,000
- Auction House: Phillips Dubai
- Sale Date: 19 November 2021
- Significance:
- Her second-highest auction price at the time (after The Sun).
- Part of her iconic "Geometric Flora" series, blending Islamic patterns with organic forms.
- Buyer: Reportedly acquired by Sharjah Art Foundation for their permanent collection.[13]
2. "Sixth Family" (2009) – $670,000
- Auction House: Christie’s Dubai
- Sale Date: 20 March 2019
- Key Details:
- A 4-meter-wide mirrored wall sculpture with Kufic calligraphy.
- Sold 2 weeks before her death, during peak market interest.
- Provenance: Exhibited at Venice Biennale (2015).[14]
3. "Untitled (Star)" (2014) – $520,000
- Auction House: Sotheby’s London
- Sale Date: 28 October 2020
- Why Notable?
- First star-shaped mirror work to appear at auction.
- Purchased by a South Korean luxury hotel group for a Seoul flagship property.[15]
4. "Cosmic Alphabet " (2012) – $290,000
- Auction House: Dubai Art Auction (now defunct)
- Sale Date: 10 December 2016
- Unique Aspect:
- Incorporates Persian alphabet letters in fractal patterns.
- Sold to Microsoft’s art collection (per Bloomberg).[16]
Critical Market Insights
1. Gender Breakthrough: Monir remains the only Iranian woman artist to consistently sell above $500K at auction.[17]
2. Middle Eastern Influence: 85% of her top buyers were from the UAE, Qatar, or Europe-driven by museum-building in the Gulf.[18]
Monir’s Legacy: From Tradition to the Global Art Market
Monir’s legacy reveals a market principle: Cultural authenticity, when distilled to universal elegance, transcends borders. Her mirrors—fusing light into harmony—reflect her auction success, breaking barriers for Middle Eastern women artists while offering a model for valuing heritage in contemporary markets. As Gulf museums compete for her works, the question lingers: Will her blend of craft and commerce inspire a generation to see tradition not as relic, but as innovation?[19]
Essay by Malihe Norouzi / Independent Art Scholar
