Starting Friday, September 19, 2025, Aliha Gallery will host “Covert”, a group exhibition featuring works by children and teenagers. Curated by painter, researcher, and art educator Niloufar Heydari, this event offers a rare glimpse into the imaginative and mysterious inner worlds of young creators. The exhibition runs until September 28, providing visitors with an opportunity to step into a realm filled with creativity, wonder, and playful thinking.
A Bridge Between Art Education and the Professional World
With over seventeen years of experience in teaching and researching art for children and teenagers, Niloufar Heydari has continually sought to redefine conventional art education. She believes that learning art goes beyond acquiring technical skills—it should cultivate imagination, individuality, and lived experience within real artistic contexts.
In an interview with Honargardi, she explains:
“My teaching method is indirect. I let the children explore, make mistakes, and find their own way rather than simply imitating me. I oppose copying because I believe art comes alive only when the student develops their own perspective. From the very beginning, children should learn that art is not just a hobby or doodling in a notebook—it’s a way of connecting with galleries, audiences, and the wider world. Experiencing this relationship prepares them for their future.”
The Importance of Early Talent Discovery
Maryam Charkhgard, art consultant at Aliha Gallery, emphasizes the educational and forward-looking value of such projects:
“When art education starts early and is guided properly, hidden talents have a chance to emerge. Many parents only realize through this process how creative and curious their children really are. Such discoveries can change the course of a child’s life.”
The Social Responsibility of Galleries
According to Niloufar Aliha, director of Aliha Gallery, exhibitions like “Covert” are part of an art institution’s broader social mission:
“If we can identify even a few truly talented children through this process, we’ve done something meaningful for the future. A gallery shouldn’t only be a space for established artists—it can also serve as a platform for discovering and nurturing a new generation of creative voices.”
Children as the Artists of Tomorrow
Niloufar Heydari once again highlights the significance of such initiatives:
“For more than five years, I’ve been organizing formal exhibitions for children and teenagers. These experiences empower them to imagine, to dream, and to create. Children are our most valuable cultural investment; the more we support their artistic education, the brighter the path for the artists of tomorrow.”
“Covert”: An Exhibition or a Learning Experience?
“Covert” is more than just an art exhibition—it’s an educational journey where learning, creativity, and public presentation intersect. The event demonstrates how children and teenagers can be introduced early on to the realities of the art world—its challenges, its demands, and its endless fascinations.
Visitors are invited not only to view the dreamlike paintings of young artists but also to step into their imaginative worlds—worlds that may well shape the future of Iranian art.
