The Katonah Museum of Art is a New York based artistic and cultural institution. Their status as a non-collecting museum allows them flexibility in their organization of exhibitions, educational programs, and public events, borrowing work for temporary installations rather than owning any work. The KMA seeks to foster an inclusive environment that offers dynamic experiences and cultural exchange.
Their 2025 exhibit featuring artist Ali Banisadr was made possible in part by Jason and Padi Nazmiyal’s loan of two paintings, as well as Nazmiyal’s continued interest in the arts.
Museum Loan Details
Institution: Katonah Museum of Art
Artist: Ali Banisadr
Pieces: Aleph; Obstruction 2
Dates Made: Aleph: 2013; Obstruction 2: 2011
Medium: Oil on linen
Dimensions: Aleph: 66 x 88 inches; Obstruction 2: 36 x 30 inches
Exhibition: Ali Banisadr: The Alchemist
Exhibition Dates: March 16–June 29, 2025
Credit: Collection of Jason and Padi Nazmiyal
Ali Banisadr: The Alchemist
Ali Banisadr is a contemporary Iranian-born mixed-media artist. He works primarily as a painter and printmaker, though he has recently delved into the realm of sculpture-making. Banisadr’s work is heavily influenced by his upbringing in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq war.
His paintings are expressive and abstract, with vibrant colors informed by his experience of synesthesia. Often depicted are figures and landscapes engaged in chaotic and dynamic scenes. Banisadr’s complex compositions reference both history and mythology, creating rich imagery that examines the nuance of human nature.
Banisadr’s involvement with the KMA consisted of a 2025 exhibition entitled Ali Banisadr: The Alchemist. The name is an allusion to the ancient philosophical and pseudoscientific tradition of experimentation and methodology. Two of the paintings included in the exhibition were loaned by Jason and Padi Nazmiyal.
Aleph
Aleph is one of two loaned pieces from Padi and Jason Nazmiyal’s collection included in the KMA’s 2025 exhibition Ali Banisadr: The Alchemist. It is a large-scale painting, measuring at 66 by 88 inches, and made entirely of oil pain on linen.
The painting consists of a dense and chaotic scene with numerous abstracted figures grouped together. Blues and pinks dominate the canvas, and the free-flowing, charged movement of the figures gives the painting an impressive vitality.
Obstruction 2
The second of the loaned pieces for Banisadr’s KMA exhibition is Obstruction 2. Also made with oil pain on linen, the painting is the smaller of the two, but equally impressive.
The piece is similarly complex, dense in its imagery and vibrantly colored. Though abstract, the painting depicts a jungle-like landscape. Mythical figures coexist within the environment, resulting in a stunning portrayal of magical realism.
Nazmiyal’s Commitment to Art Preservation and Appreciation
Jason Nazmiyal is a well respected collector and founder of the Nazmiyal Collection. With over four decades of collecting, his specialties lie in antique rugs and textiles from around the world, whit a significant inventory of Persian carpets. His interest in craftwork extends beyond just the textile industry, though, and into other creative fields. He is committed to the continued preservations, study, and appreciation of fine art and history, as is evident from his multiple museum and curatorial collaborations.
Nazmiyal seeks to champion artists, both historical and contemporary, and aid in the conservation of creativity. As an Iranian-born man himself, Nazmiyal’s support of fellow Iranian Ali Banisadr is a personal venture as much as it is an artistic one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a non-collecting museum?
A non-collecting museum is an institution that borrows work for its exhibitions rather than outright owning pieces. Because none of their works are part of permanent installations, it offers museum goers dynamic experiences based in education, public programming, and direct support for artists.
What was Nazmiyal’s involvement in the KMA’s Ali Banisadr exhibition?
Jason and Padi Nazmiyal loaned the museum two of Ali Banisadr’s oil on linen paintings from their private collection.
What exhibition included the two loaned paintings?
Katonah Museum of Art’s 2025 exhibition Ali Banisadr: The Alchemist included the two loaned paintings.
How were the pieces made?
Both pieces were painted in oil on linen and feature expressive abstract forms that blend both mythology and realism.
Do Jason and Padi Nazmiyal own more of Ali Banisadr’s artwork in their private collection?
Yes. Jason and Padi Nazmiyal have a large collection of art and historical textiles. Their collection includes several of Ali Banisadr’s work.
Explore More
Jason Nazmiyal has personal involvement with several cultural institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Whitney Museum of Art, The Morgan Library & Museum, and the Asia Society Museum, in addition to the KMA. See more of Nazmiyal’s donations, loans, and other institutional collaborations in the Nazmiyal Museum Collaboration Archive.