Babak Daleki

Babak Daleki, is a Persian ceramic artist specializing in carving tiles, hand built vessels, exotic platters, and bowls, which have a lot of details with eye catching textured and glaze washed to complete the effects of ancient designs. Babak has been a potter for over 20 years and has had many exhibitions and worked with many great masters throughout IRAN and the US, to perfect his art of pottery. His work has been published in numerous articles in art magazines and newspapers in Iran and the United States. He has taught many classes in glaze making, firing, wheel throwing, and clay sculpture.

“I hope that my one of a kind pieces will allow people to not only be exposed to something aesthetically appealing, but take them to the ten thousand years of Iranian history that have been hidden under layers of silence.” - Babak Daleki

All pieces are made in stoneware clay and high-fire glazes. Babak has enormous respect for the medium of Clay and has been a student of clay, so much so that “…it has became a way of life. The clay that I mold and create with my hands contains my Persian heritage; my vision is to share it with the world. Everything I create contains my culture and history. I am fascinated by the processes of pottery, and the possibilities of making the most basic elements of life, earth, water, and fire. I have been influenced by the rich ceramic traditions of Iran, particularly its culture, and the ways the potters have incorporated the simple, honest historical designs of nature in their work. My ceramic art works have many influences - from mythical, allegorical imagery borrowing from ancient Iranian iconography, to forms referencing ancient Persian pottery and artifacts.

As an contemporary Iranian potter with a background in graphic art and design Daleki has tried to fuse the old elements with his own contemporary ideas. Over the years he has spent a great deal of effort to search and acquire knowledge about the history and techniques of glazing, firing and throwing to complete his own ideas.

Daleki believes that each piece of clay that he works with has a soul and as an artist, “I help the soul find shape, form, texture, color and existence.”

EDUCATION
1980 – 82 Studied with various Graphic & Painting masters, Tehran, Iran
1982 – 85 Studied Graphic Art at Vienna Art College, Austria
1985 – 87 Studied with various Interior Designers, Tehran, Iran
1985 – 86 Studied wheel throwing techniques under master potter, Tehran, Iran
1987 – 98 Teaching and having workshops at many art centers, Tehran, Iran
1999 – 2000 Teaching wheel throwing and glazing techniques, UCDC art center, Washington, DC
1987– Present Professional Studio Potter – Daleki Ceramic Studio, Tehran, Iran & San Jose, CA

ORGANIZATIONS
Exhibiting member of Association of ceramic and Glass Artists of Northern California (ACGA)

PUBLICATIONS
Aug. ’99 - “World Word Magazine”, Potter of the Month - Tehran, Iran.
Jul. ’99 - “Iran Today”, Persian Art in Western World - San Jose, CA.
Aug. ‘99 - “Iran Andisheh”, Art of Pottery - San Jose, CA.
Feb. ‘99 - “Andisheh Publication”, Pottery : Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, San Jose, CA.
Oct. ‘99 - “Andisheh Publication” San Jose, CA – The first Iranian potter in the US.
Jan. ‘98 - “ Graphic Journal”, The world of Clay - Tehran, Iran.
Feb. ‘98 - “Jameh Newspaper” Tehran, Iran – Poetry, music and painting in the spirit of pottery.
Oct. ‘98 - “Tasvieer”, Classic Art of Pottery, San Jose, CA.
Mar. ‘97- “ Tasvieer”, Glaze work in Pottery, San Jose, CA.
Jan. ‘97 - “Imagination Arts club monthly Magazine”, And god created the soil.
Jan. ‘97 - “Hamshari Newspaper”, Transfer of culture via the art of pottery,Tehran, Iran.
Apr. ‘97 - “Tehran Daily News”, “Hamshari Newspaper”, “Photo Magazine, Artist of the year award”, Tehran, Iran.
Mar. ‘97 - “Kayhan Daily News”, A review of the 16th pottery and voluminel objects of “Babak Daleki” mixture of soil and fire.
Mar. ‘96 - “ Akhbar Newspaper”, The future of modern art - Tehran, Iran.
Sep. ‘96 - “Hamshari Newpaper”, The need of group work and cooperation.
Nov. ‘96 - “Virtual Art Magazine, sculpture Artist of the year”, Tehran, Iran.
May ‘95 - “Photo Magazine, Visual artist of the Year”, “Kayhan Newspaper, Article: Comparison between Modern & traditional Pottery”, Tehran, Iran.
Apr. ‘94 - “Ettelaat Newspaper”, Iranian TV Interview: Extra-ordinary potter.
Nov. ‘94 - “Kayhan Daily News”, Imagination and innovation are forming.
Dec. ‘93 - “Kayhan Daily News”, One pottery but not made of soil.
Dec. ‘93 - “Salam Morning News”, Tehran, Iran, Taking a look at Daleki’s pottery.
Aug. ‘93 - “Hamshari Newspaper”, Iran Radio Interview: usage of textural glaze in pottery.
July ‘92 – “Art Magazine”, article: Traditional pottery in modern era.
2001- ACGA newsletter
2003 – Los Gatos daily new

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