The timed auction ends Thursday October 1st at 8:00pm. Whoever holds the highest bid at the auction closing time wins.
Mina Afra
Lion, Cypress And Inverted Tulips II, 2026
oil pastel on paper - framed
Height 50 cm x Width 40 cm
Artwork is framed and ready to hang & comes with a certificate of authenticity
Starting Bid: $400
Oil pastel on paper - Framed in black frame 50 x 40 cm- 40 x 30 cm artwork size
This painting belongs to my recent series of works on paper. In this series I return to a group of symbols that continue to call me back to my motherland.
To me, the lion embodies the courage of people who stand with extraordinary bravery in the face of oppression. The lion and sun, a central emblem of Iran, speak of a deeper historical identity that continues to live in the collective memory. The cypress tree, tall and unbending, has long symbolised resistance and immortality. And in the foreground, the inverted tulip (Laleh Vajgoon), known as the “weeping bride” (Fritillaria imperialis) bows its head like a flower in mourning. In Persian mythology it is said to have grown from the tears shed for Siavash, the innocent hero whose tragic fate made him a symbol of purity, sacrifice, and unjust loss.
Artist Bio: Mina Afra is an Iranian-born Australian painter based in Melbourne. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from Tehran University of Art, where she developed a strong foundation in visual storytelling and design thinking that continues to inform her artistic practice.
Working primarily in oil, with occasional mixed-media works, Mina draws inspiration from the landscapes of Australia, her Persian heritage, and the emotional experiences that emerge through encounters with nature. Her paintings move between observation and imagination, translating the energy, movement and feeling of a place into vibrant colour and fluid forms.
Her practice explores connection — between inner and outer landscapes, memory and place, heritage and new beginnings. In her recent lion series, Persian cultural imagery becomes a language through which she explores memory, courage, belonging and the enduring symbolic presence of the lion in Iranian culture.
Dimensions:
50 cm x 40 cm