Keyvan Varesi wins the International City of Tolentino Award.
A moment of great pride for Iranian art: Keyvan Varesi won the first prize of the 33rd edition of the International Biennial of Humor in Art (BIUMOR 2025) with his work “Murder and Joker”.
A prestigious recognition
The award ceremony took place on Saturday 12th July at the suggestive Rancia Castle of Tolentino, in the Marche region, where Varesi's work was chosen from hundreds of works from all over the world for the International City of Tolentino Award, dedicated to the theme “Unintentional comedy”.
The jury motivated the choice by awarding “the fresh and spontaneous intonation, in the wake of the great Western tradition that identifies in the figure of the jester the reverse of power and oppression”.
A cultural bridge through art
This victory represents an important moment in cultural dialogue between Iran and Italy, demonstrating how humorous art can transcend geographical and linguistic boundaries. Varesi's work "Murder and Joker" successfully interpreted the theme of unintentional comedy with a sensitivity that impressed an international jury of experts.
BIUMOR 2025: an international showcase
The Biennale, which will run from July 12, 2025, to January 6, 2026, has transformed the restored Castello della Rancia into an extraordinary contemporary art gallery. As Deputy Mayor Alessia Pupo emphasized, the event is "an extraordinary opportunity to reflect on today's reality using humor and understand how current affairs are interpreted in the world".
A tradition that continues
Keyvan Varesi's success continues the prestigious tradition of BIUMOR, which for over three decades has been one of the most important events in global humorous art. The presence of Iranian artists in this competition testifies to the vitality and creativity of contemporary art in our country.
Varesi's victory is not only a personal recognition, but a tribute to Iran's cultural richness and its ability to dialogue with the world through the universal language of art.
Congratulations to Keyvan Varesi on this extraordinary achievement!