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Coming to the US for the first time are a series of works by urban artists from Iran, expressing culture, youth, revolution, and hope. From the Streets of Iran: Works on Paper by Urban Artists from Iran, is a new exhibit opening tonight at Crewest Gallery in Los Angeles. The five artists represented have shown their works in Europe and Australia to rave reviews. Their art, which are graffiti works on paper, reflects themes seen in American urban art and graffiti, but with a unique Iranian twist. Inside Iran, graffiti is considered a political crime and captures common critiques of a mostly young society. One of the artists, SOT says he likes to use the wall as a medium because “I like how walls can speak for me.” The exhibit is being curated by Shervin Shahbazi, who has curated a number of exhibitions in LA over the last ten years.

The exhibit From the Streets of Iran opens this evening at Crewest, 110 Winston Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 and shows through September 26th. The opening reception is tonight at 6 pm.

Find out more at www.crewest.com.

Servin Shahbazi is also curating an exhibition called Traces of Being: Iran in the Passage of Memories, from September 10 – November 21, 2009, at MoronoKiang Gallery, 218 West 3rd Street, Bradbury Building, Los Angeles CA 90013. Call 213-628-8208. More info at www.moronokiang.com.