Morteza Momayez (1935 - 2005) was a prominent Iranian graphic designer.

Throughout his career, he initiated many cultural institutes, exhibitions and graphic design publications.

Momayez was one of the founders of Iranian Graphic Design Society (IGDS) and held a membership to Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI).

Moreover, he was the president of Tehran International Poster Biennial and Editor-in-chief of Neshan Magazine.

In 2003, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Arts held an exhibition of his artworks, during which he was honored for 40 years of active work in the domain of art.

Momayez was also awarded by the former Iranian president in 2004.

Born in 1936, he received his bachelor’s degree from Tehran University, Faculty of Fine Arts, in 1965.

Then he left for France and continued his higher studies majoring in interior design and architecture. Upon graduation, he switched his career as an illustrator and graphic designer.

He became the art and graphic manager of several highly reputable literary and cultural periodicals, carried out the stage and garment designs for 14 plays and two feature films.

Beside the graphic arts, he produced three short films. However, he mainly focused his energy on illustration.

During the late 30 years of his life, momayez helped many young artists to find the way to the graphic world.

In fact, the nickname–Father of Iranian Graphic –is because of this teaching attitude and his innovative personality.

A well-known Iranian painter, Aydeen Aghdashlou, told prior to Momayez, logo had no meaning in Iran's graphic arts.

“He played a decisive role in establishment, development and promotion of faculties of graphic arts as well as training a generation of first-degree artists,” he added.

Another painter and illustrator, Parviz Kalantari, said that Momayez founded modern illustration in Iran at the height of conflict between modernists and traditionalists in plastic and graphic arts.

“Disregard for the established rules and turning to modern methods of expression and illustration are quite evident in all of the artworks of the late artist,” added Kalantari.

The outstanding animator, Noureddin Zarrin-Kelk said that Momayez was responsible for the integrated and dynamic movement in the field of graphic arts, which attracted a great number of Iranian graphic designers.

Momayez was suffering from lung and respiratory disorders for a long time. He left behind six remarkable books on graphic arts and several international prizes.