Sadegh Khalife (b. 1983), is a native of Shushtar, Iran, where he continues to live and work. As the founder and director of the Shovadun Gallery in Shushtar, Khalife's artwork has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions, as well as prestigious art festivals across Iran.
Khalife's profound interest in machinery as a visual form, coupled with frequent references to hybrid, semi-industrial systems and entities in his artwork, is deeply rooted in his 17-year career in the industrial sector. His works draw inspiration from the collective memories of the people of Southern Iran, who have endured numerous hardships, from the rapid industrialization of their homeland to the devastation of a protracted and sorrowful war. These events have left a profound impact on this once-prosperous region and its generous and warm-hearted inhabitants. Khalife's deep-seated environmental concerns are often reflected in his paintings, which typically depict a stark contrast between rigid structures and machines and the vulnerability of nature and humanity.