Join us for our Nowruz Festival, returning for the second year to Lauderdale House! We are hosting a month-long celebration for Nowruz – also known as Persian New Year – with talks from incredible speakers, a ‘Haft-sin’ Trail, a bazaar, art exhibitions and more.
Nowruz is a tradition celebrated by over 300 million people worldwide for more than 3,000 years. It holds significance in Western Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea Basin, the Balkans, and South Asia. A celebration deeply rooted in Iranian culture, Nowruz serves as a vital element of Iranian identity, fostering a sense of pride in one’s heritage while forging connections with both history and the community. Iranians exhibit commendable dedication in preserving and perpetuating this cherished tradition, ensuring its continuous vibrancy and significance throughout generations.
Often compared to a Paradise Garden with its secret enclaves, ponds and myriad of trees (including a Persian Ironwood tree), Waterlow Park has become a key location for families and friends looking to celebrate throughout the period. We are delighted to bring the party back to Lauderdale House this year under the guidance of our Artist/Curator Mehrdad Aref-Adib.
Please find our 2025 events below:
5 March – 31 March
Between Worlds Exhibition
Lower Gallery
Check gallery hours | FreeWritten Wonders Exhibition
Upper Gallery
Check gallery hours | Free8 March – 3 April
Haft-sin Trail
Waterlow Park
Park opening hours | Free11 March – 3 April
Nowruz by the Women of Yaran Exhibition
Courtyard
Check gallery hours | FreeWednesday 12 March
Nowruz Private View & Festival Launch
7.30-9.30pm | FreeThursday 13 March
Jazz in the House: Kourosh Kanani & Matt Davies
Lower Gallery
8pm | £15.50Saturday 15 March
Nowruz Bazaar
Ground Floor
11am – 5pm | FreeNowruz Talk: New Day: Nowruz in Afghanistan
First Floor
11.30am | Free – please bookNowruz Talk: Manuscripts, miniatures and Marketing Through Art
First Floor
2pm | Free – please bookNowruz Talk: A Tale of Two Journeys
First Floor
4pm | Free – please bookSunday 16 March
Nowruz Bazaar
Ground Floor
11am – 5pm | FreeNowruz Family Day
First Floor
11am – 3pm | FreeFriday 28 March
Myths of Shahnam: Storytelling with Zahra Afsah
First Floor
8pm | £12Monday 31 March
An Evening with Rumi
First Floor
7.30pm | £15.50
Part of our Nowruz festival, experience a captivating showcase of visual storytelling as four UK-based Iranian illustrators bring their unique artistic perspectives to Lower Gallery.
Through a fusion of digital, printmaking, and mixed media techniques, Mehrdad Aref-Adib, Sahar Haghgoo, Sahar Khaleghi and Shokoufeh Fallah explore themes of identity, nature, and the interplay between reality and imagination.
Mehrdad Aref-Adib is an Iranian-born, London-based fine artist and illustrator, Mehrdad’s work captures the essence of his dual heritage, weaving together nostalgia, culture, and art with humour. Mehrdad is an important part of the Lauderdale House family and is for the second year curating our entire Nowruz Festival. To learn more about Mehrdad and his work, please visit his Instagram.
Sahar Haghgoo is an illustrator and painter originally from Iran and now based in London. Her work explores the concepts of beauty and the sublime, focusing on the interplay between these two ideas. Sahar examines how beauty can evoke pleasure and satisfaction, while the sublime inspired feelings of awe, respect, and even fear. It seems that by drawing and visualizing monsters, Sahar discovers unknown parts of herself, and by shaping them, she also shapes her own existence and nature. Her work is deeply connected to the aesthetics of nature, exploring themes of monsters in nature, the unknown, change and transformation, and the destruction of beauty. Sahar is particularly interested in exploring this contrast through themes of size and proportion, familiarity and unfamiliarity, and the emotional responses they elicit. She often work with different techniques to capture these nuances and create pieces that invite viewers to consider the complex relationship between these seemingly opposing forces. To learn more about Sahar and her work, please visit her website or her Instagram.
Sahar Khaleghi is an Iranian artist now based in London. Her art passionately addresses the pressing concerns of her homeland. Sahar’s works have been exhibited in numerous countries around the world, including the UK, Germany, Estonia, Greece, and China. In 2018, Sahar was honoured with the Special Award at the International Gold Panda Cartoon and Illustration competition in China. Recently, her art featured prominently at the 52nd Belgrade Golden Pen Illustration Festival exhibition! and has gained recognition in several international magazines. Having grown up as a young woman in Iran, Sahar has choosen to weave modern and historical influences into her art, aiming to illuminate the experiences of women across cultures. Through her creations, Sahar seeks to convey powerful narratives that transcend borders, speaking to the challenges and triumphs of women worldwide. To learn more about Sahar and her work, please visit her website, her Instagram or her Facebook page.
Shokoufeh Fallah is a London-based Iranian Printmaker. While drawing and painting are important parts of her practice, printmaking holds a special place in Shokoufeh’s work thanks to its exquisite texture, its relation to fertility and birth, and the way the tools allow her to reach a world fraught with expressive colours, lines and textures. Shokoufeh is influenced by various themes, from that of womanhood and eroticism, which are ingrained with expressive colours and create intense, two-fold, intermingled spaces, to the reciprocity of life and death, which is accompanied with elements like fish, birds and trees taking away their freedom through rigid lines entangling them. Humans, forms and colours of her works are accompanied with a sort of embroilment, along with a sizzling rhythm which catapults Shokoufeh out from her inner world together with a cultural nostalgia, allowing her to conceive the persistence of life in the outer world through clinging the colours and forms. To learn more about Shokoufeh and her work, please visit her website.
Please join us at the private view of the exhibitions on Wednesday 12 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm and helps us launch our Nowruz Festival.
It is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. We kindly ask that you RSVP via email if you plan on attending to help us get a sense of numbers.
Beyond Worlds will be on display in the Lower Gallery, our airy ground floor room at the front of the House, during gallery opening times from Wednesday 5 March – Monday 31 March 2025.
The gallery is generally open:
- Monday – Tuesday : 12pm to 4pm
- Wednesday : 11am to 3pm
- Thursday – Sunday : 12pm to 4pm
Please note that the gallery hours may change or the gallery may close at short notice due to private events. To avoid disappointment, please check our most up-to-date opening hours by clicking here or calling us on 020 8348 8716 the day before your visit.
We are delighted to exhibit paintings and artificial flowers crafted by Yaran Women’s Club members in celebration of Nowruz.
Yaran Women’s Club is a non-profit constituted organisation and is solely established to help women of all ages who are suffering from isolation and loneliness, anxiety and depression or any other kind of mental health issues. It is a safe place for women and their children.
Yaran’s aim is to promote the members’ emotional health and confidence and to encourage them back to the society. Yaran provides a sense of community and helps women develop friendship through social, educational and free courses and activities. It is a registered charity, non-partisan which does not endorse any political or religious group or position.
The collaborative exhibition was created by women of Yaran and their teacher Mitra, a professional textile artist, combining paintings with artificial flowers. Each member contributed by sticking flowers onto the canvas and textile and painting over them, producing unique and amazing works of art.
Widely observed in various regions, including the Middle East, Asia, the Balkans, and East Africa, Nowruz has evolved with diverse traditions centred around the theme of rebirth. Celebrated around the spring equinox, Nowruz announces the transition from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere. These beautiful works represent not only the rebirth heralded in by Nowruz, but also the transformative power that Yaran Women’s Club has on its members.
Please join us at the private view of the exhibitions on Wednesday 12 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm and helps us launch our Nowruz Festival.
It is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. We kindly ask that you RSVP via email if you plan on attending to help us get a sense of numbers.
Nowruz by the Women of Yaran exhibition will be on display in the Courtyard during gallery opening times from Monday 10 March – Thursday 3 April. The Courtyard is an indoor space which is as our community gallery at the heart of the House.
- Monday – Tuesday : 12 – 4pm
- Wednesday : 11am – 3pm
- Thursday – Sunday : 12 – 4pm
Come and enjoy the beauty of Persian calligraphy as three UK-based Iranian artists bring their visions to Upper Gallery.
This exhibition celebrates the elegance of Persian script, where tradition meets contemporary expression through the hands of skilled calligraphers Tahmineh and Saeid Palizdar and Razieh Riazati.
Tahmineh and Saeid Palizdar are a dynamic father-daughter calligraphy duo who breathe new life into Persian calligraphy, blending heritage with modern interpretations. Their work embodies a deep-rooted passion for the fluidity and elegance of Persian script.
Saeed Palizdar is an accomplished calligrapher with a deep-rooted passion for Persian calligraphy, which he began exploring in Iran in the 1980s. With an extensive background in traditional scripts such as Nastaliq and Shekaste, his work reflects years of dedication to preserving and evolving this ancient art form. Recently, Saeed has been blending modern techniques with traditional calligraphy, incorporating mixed media and acrylic on canvas to create striking compositions. The elegance and precision of his work showcase the timeless beauty of Persian calligraphy, while his exploration of new methods breathes fresh energy into the art.
Tahmineh Palizdar’s work is a vibrant, youthful expression of Persian calligraphy, characterized by bold colours and dynamic forms. Trained from a young age under the guidance of her father, Saeed, she has built upon traditional techniques to create her own distinctive approach. By blending modern sensibilities with classical forms, she brings a playful and experimental element to the art. Through the use of vivid colours, her pieces convey a sense of energy and movement, while still honouring the grace of Persian script. Tahmineh’s work seeks to connect the rich heritage of calligraphy with a contemporary perspective, offering a fresh interpretation that resonates with today’s audience. To learn more about Tahmineh and Saeid, please visit their Instagram.
Razieh Riazati was born in Tehran in 1976. Although she pursued a degree in clinical psychology, her passion for the arts was ever-present. Her journey eventually led her to calligraphy, igniting an enduring fascination with this expressive art form. “Calligraphy feels like a harmonious dance between structure and creativity. Every brushstroke, like words on a canvas, holds boundless meaning.” Razieh’s works are deeply inspired by the poetry of Victor Hugo, Hafez, Rumi, Saadi, and Sohrab Sepehri. Her paintings spontaneously emerge from this poetic influence, using vibrant acrylic and oil colours to capture profound philosophical themes. She eventually founded Raaz Art, a brand with a name that blends her own name and the Farsi word for “mystery,” symbolizing the enigmatic beauty inherent in her creations. To learn more about Razieh and her work, please visit her Instagram.
Private View
Please join us at the private view of the exhibitions on Wednesday 12 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm and helps us launch our Nowruz Festival.
It is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. We kindly ask that you RSVP via email if you plan on attending to help us get a sense of numbers.
Opening Dates & Hours
Written Wonders will be on display in the Upper Gallery, our vibrant first floor space, during gallery opening times from Wednesday 5 March – Monday 31 March 2025.
The gallery is generally open:
- Monday – Tuesday : 12pm to 4pm
- Wednesday : 11am to 3pm
- Thursday – Sunday : 12pm to 4pm
Please note that the gallery hours may change or the gallery may close at short notice due to private events. To avoid disappointment, please check our most up-to-date opening hours by clicking here or calling us on 020 8348 8716 the day before your visit.
Andrew MacDonald’s practice has always been about people. His work reflects a continual fascination with who we are, how we feel, what our history etches onto our features and our responses and relationship to the world around us. The show will include his twelve Food Bank Portraits completed during 2024 to raise awareness of food poverty, as well as commissioned work.
Highgate Gallery is open:
Wednesday – Fridays: 13.00 – 17.00
Saturday and Sunday: 10.00 – 16.00
7 – 20 March 2025
Martini – the ultimate cocktail tasting with Alice Lascelles
Thursday 13th March 2025
7.30 pm
10A South Grove N6 6BS
Entry £32 including welcome cocktail, Martini tasters and snacks.
Written by award-winning journalist Judi Bevan, Too Many Books is a heartfelt, thought-provoking debut play exploring the complexities of international adoption and the emotional journey of parents seeking to create a family.
Set in the 1990s, it follows Daniel and Julia, a couple confronting bureaucratic obstacles, cultural differences, and the pressures on their relationship as they pursue adopting a child from China. As they navigate adoption policies and judgments on their suitability, Daniel and Julia must reconcile their expectations of the adoption process with the stark reality they experience.
This intimate production sheds light on issues of identity, cultural displacement, and the emotional sacrifices parents make. It will resonate deeply with anyone touched by adoption or the longing for family.
Kourosh Kanani and Matt Davies bring ancient traditions to the modern soundscape in this special Jazz in the House concert for Lauderdale’s Nowruz Festival.
Kourosh Kanani and Matt Davies are redefining the boundaries of contemporary music by weaving the rich traditions of Iran, Azerbaijan and South Indian rhythm into a modern jazz tapestry. Through Kourosh’s deeply expressive guitar work and Matt’s innovative use of electronics and drum kit, this duo creates a powerful dialogue between important ancient cultural legacies and cutting-edge soundscapes. Their music is both a tribute to the heritage of these diverse regions and a bold exploration of their modern relevance, offering audiences a mesmerizing experience that transcends borders, time, and genre. Together they create a unique blend of tradition and innovation, rooted in jazz yet unbound by convention, that is not to be missed.
To learn more about Kourosh and Matt, please visit their website or listen to their music on Spotify (Kourosh Kanani and Matt Davies).
Head into Waterlow Park and help us search for the Haft-sin eggs!
Celebrated around the spring equinox, Nowruz heralds the transition from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere. This moment of equilibrium between night and day signifies a fresh start. Preparations for Nowruz commence weeks ahead, involving an extensive cleaning of homes— from carpets to windows, with every family member contributing. This thorough spring-cleaning serves as a symbolic act, washing away the remnants of the past year to make room for positive changes in the upcoming one.
During the joyous celebration, families gather around the Haft-sin table, decorated with with seven foods and spices which represent renewal and prosperity. Each item begins with the letter ‘s’ and has a unique meaning which combine to create a tapestry of wishes and aspirations for the year ahead. Other items, such as a mirror, goldfish, painted eggs, candles, are frequently added, as they also represent life, love, health, and prosperity.
Join us in the park and follow the trail to find our hidden eggs, whilst learning about the ingredients for the Haft-sin! Each egg represents an item, and can be discovered by following the clues on the trail map, which will be available online and for pickup at Lauderdale House at the end of February. Good luck!
Join us for our Nowruz Festival, returning for the second year to Lauderdale House! We are hosting a month-long celebration for Nowruz – also known as Persian New Year – with talks from incredible speakers, a ‘Haft-sin’ Trail, a bazaar, art exhibitions and more.
Nowruz is a tradition celebrated by over 300 million people worldwide for more than 3,000 years. It holds significance in Western Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea Basin, the Balkans, and South Asia. A celebration deeply rooted in Iranian culture, Nowruz serves as a vital element of Iranian identity, fostering a sense of pride in one’s heritage while forging connections with both history and the community. Iranians exhibit commendable dedication in preserving and perpetuating this cherished tradition, ensuring its continuous vibrancy and significance throughout generations.
Often compared to a Paradise Garden with its secret enclaves, ponds and myriad of trees (including a Persian Ironwood tree), Waterlow Park has become a key location for families and friends looking to celebrate throughout the period. We are delighted to bring the party back to Lauderdale House this year under the guidance of our Artist/Curator Mehrdad Aref-Adib.
Please find our 2025 events below:
5 March – 31 March
Between Worlds Exhibition
Lower Gallery
Check gallery hours | FreeWritten Wonders Exhibition
Upper Gallery
Check gallery hours | Free8 March – 3 April
Haft-sin Trail
Waterlow Park
Park opening hours | Free11 March – 3 April
Nowruz by the Women of Yaran Exhibition
Courtyard
Check gallery hours | FreeWednesday 12 March
Nowruz Private View & Festival Launch
7.30-9.30pm | FreeThursday 13 March
Jazz in the House: Kourosh Kanani & Matt Davies
Lower Gallery
8pm | £15.50Saturday 15 March
Nowruz Bazaar
Ground Floor
11am – 5pm | FreeNowruz Talk: New Day: Nowruz in Afghanistan
First Floor
11.30am | Free – please bookNowruz Talk: Manuscripts, miniatures and Marketing Through Art
First Floor
2pm | Free – please bookNowruz Talk: A Tale of Two Journeys
First Floor
4pm | Free – please bookSunday 16 March
Nowruz Bazaar
Ground Floor
11am – 5pm | FreeNowruz Family Day
First Floor
11am – 3pm | FreeFriday 28 March
Myths of Shahnam: Storytelling with Zahra Afsah
First Floor
8pm | £12Monday 31 March
An Evening with Rumi
First Floor
7.30pm | £15.50
Part of our Nowruz festival, experience a captivating showcase of visual storytelling as four UK-based Iranian illustrators bring their unique artistic perspectives to Lower Gallery.
Through a fusion of digital, printmaking, and mixed media techniques, Mehrdad Aref-Adib, Sahar Haghgoo, Sahar Khaleghi and Shokoufeh Fallah explore themes of identity, nature, and the interplay between reality and imagination.
Mehrdad Aref-Adib is an Iranian-born, London-based fine artist and illustrator, Mehrdad’s work captures the essence of his dual heritage, weaving together nostalgia, culture, and art with humour. Mehrdad is an important part of the Lauderdale House family and is for the second year curating our entire Nowruz Festival. To learn more about Mehrdad and his work, please visit his Instagram.
Sahar Haghgoo is an illustrator and painter originally from Iran and now based in London. Her work explores the concepts of beauty and the sublime, focusing on the interplay between these two ideas. Sahar examines how beauty can evoke pleasure and satisfaction, while the sublime inspired feelings of awe, respect, and even fear. It seems that by drawing and visualizing monsters, Sahar discovers unknown parts of herself, and by shaping them, she also shapes her own existence and nature. Her work is deeply connected to the aesthetics of nature, exploring themes of monsters in nature, the unknown, change and transformation, and the destruction of beauty. Sahar is particularly interested in exploring this contrast through themes of size and proportion, familiarity and unfamiliarity, and the emotional responses they elicit. She often work with different techniques to capture these nuances and create pieces that invite viewers to consider the complex relationship between these seemingly opposing forces. To learn more about Sahar and her work, please visit her website or her Instagram.
Sahar Khaleghi is an Iranian artist now based in London. Her art passionately addresses the pressing concerns of her homeland. Sahar’s works have been exhibited in numerous countries around the world, including the UK, Germany, Estonia, Greece, and China. In 2018, Sahar was honoured with the Special Award at the International Gold Panda Cartoon and Illustration competition in China. Recently, her art featured prominently at the 52nd Belgrade Golden Pen Illustration Festival exhibition! and has gained recognition in several international magazines. Having grown up as a young woman in Iran, Sahar has choosen to weave modern and historical influences into her art, aiming to illuminate the experiences of women across cultures. Through her creations, Sahar seeks to convey powerful narratives that transcend borders, speaking to the challenges and triumphs of women worldwide. To learn more about Sahar and her work, please visit her website, her Instagram or her Facebook page.
Shokoufeh Fallah is a London-based Iranian Printmaker. While drawing and painting are important parts of her practice, printmaking holds a special place in Shokoufeh’s work thanks to its exquisite texture, its relation to fertility and birth, and the way the tools allow her to reach a world fraught with expressive colours, lines and textures. Shokoufeh is influenced by various themes, from that of womanhood and eroticism, which are ingrained with expressive colours and create intense, two-fold, intermingled spaces, to the reciprocity of life and death, which is accompanied with elements like fish, birds and trees taking away their freedom through rigid lines entangling them. Humans, forms and colours of her works are accompanied with a sort of embroilment, along with a sizzling rhythm which catapults Shokoufeh out from her inner world together with a cultural nostalgia, allowing her to conceive the persistence of life in the outer world through clinging the colours and forms. To learn more about Shokoufeh and her work, please visit her website.
Please join us at the private view of the exhibitions on Wednesday 12 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm and helps us launch our Nowruz Festival.
It is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. We kindly ask that you RSVP via email if you plan on attending to help us get a sense of numbers.
Beyond Worlds will be on display in the Lower Gallery, our airy ground floor room at the front of the House, during gallery opening times from Wednesday 5 March – Monday 31 March 2025.
The gallery is generally open:
- Monday – Tuesday : 12pm to 4pm
- Wednesday : 11am to 3pm
- Thursday – Sunday : 12pm to 4pm
Please note that the gallery hours may change or the gallery may close at short notice due to private events. To avoid disappointment, please check our most up-to-date opening hours by clicking here or calling us on 020 8348 8716 the day before your visit.
We are delighted to exhibit paintings and artificial flowers crafted by Yaran Women’s Club members in celebration of Nowruz.
Yaran Women’s Club is a non-profit constituted organisation and is solely established to help women of all ages who are suffering from isolation and loneliness, anxiety and depression or any other kind of mental health issues. It is a safe place for women and their children.
Yaran’s aim is to promote the members’ emotional health and confidence and to encourage them back to the society. Yaran provides a sense of community and helps women develop friendship through social, educational and free courses and activities. It is a registered charity, non-partisan which does not endorse any political or religious group or position.
The collaborative exhibition was created by women of Yaran and their teacher Mitra, a professional textile artist, combining paintings with artificial flowers. Each member contributed by sticking flowers onto the canvas and textile and painting over them, producing unique and amazing works of art.
Widely observed in various regions, including the Middle East, Asia, the Balkans, and East Africa, Nowruz has evolved with diverse traditions centred around the theme of rebirth. Celebrated around the spring equinox, Nowruz announces the transition from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere. These beautiful works represent not only the rebirth heralded in by Nowruz, but also the transformative power that Yaran Women’s Club has on its members.
Please join us at the private view of the exhibitions on Wednesday 12 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm and helps us launch our Nowruz Festival.
It is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. We kindly ask that you RSVP via email if you plan on attending to help us get a sense of numbers.
Nowruz by the Women of Yaran exhibition will be on display in the Courtyard during gallery opening times from Monday 10 March – Thursday 3 April. The Courtyard is an indoor space which is as our community gallery at the heart of the House.
- Monday – Tuesday : 12 – 4pm
- Wednesday : 11am – 3pm
- Thursday – Sunday : 12 – 4pm
Come and enjoy the beauty of Persian calligraphy as three UK-based Iranian artists bring their visions to Upper Gallery.
This exhibition celebrates the elegance of Persian script, where tradition meets contemporary expression through the hands of skilled calligraphers Tahmineh and Saeid Palizdar and Razieh Riazati.
Tahmineh and Saeid Palizdar are a dynamic father-daughter calligraphy duo who breathe new life into Persian calligraphy, blending heritage with modern interpretations. Their work embodies a deep-rooted passion for the fluidity and elegance of Persian script.
Saeed Palizdar is an accomplished calligrapher with a deep-rooted passion for Persian calligraphy, which he began exploring in Iran in the 1980s. With an extensive background in traditional scripts such as Nastaliq and Shekaste, his work reflects years of dedication to preserving and evolving this ancient art form. Recently, Saeed has been blending modern techniques with traditional calligraphy, incorporating mixed media and acrylic on canvas to create striking compositions. The elegance and precision of his work showcase the timeless beauty of Persian calligraphy, while his exploration of new methods breathes fresh energy into the art.
Tahmineh Palizdar’s work is a vibrant, youthful expression of Persian calligraphy, characterized by bold colours and dynamic forms. Trained from a young age under the guidance of her father, Saeed, she has built upon traditional techniques to create her own distinctive approach. By blending modern sensibilities with classical forms, she brings a playful and experimental element to the art. Through the use of vivid colours, her pieces convey a sense of energy and movement, while still honouring the grace of Persian script. Tahmineh’s work seeks to connect the rich heritage of calligraphy with a contemporary perspective, offering a fresh interpretation that resonates with today’s audience. To learn more about Tahmineh and Saeid, please visit their Instagram.
Razieh Riazati was born in Tehran in 1976. Although she pursued a degree in clinical psychology, her passion for the arts was ever-present. Her journey eventually led her to calligraphy, igniting an enduring fascination with this expressive art form. “Calligraphy feels like a harmonious dance between structure and creativity. Every brushstroke, like words on a canvas, holds boundless meaning.” Razieh’s works are deeply inspired by the poetry of Victor Hugo, Hafez, Rumi, Saadi, and Sohrab Sepehri. Her paintings spontaneously emerge from this poetic influence, using vibrant acrylic and oil colours to capture profound philosophical themes. She eventually founded Raaz Art, a brand with a name that blends her own name and the Farsi word for “mystery,” symbolizing the enigmatic beauty inherent in her creations. To learn more about Razieh and her work, please visit her Instagram.
Private View
Please join us at the private view of the exhibitions on Wednesday 12 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm and helps us launch our Nowruz Festival.
It is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. We kindly ask that you RSVP via email if you plan on attending to help us get a sense of numbers.
Opening Dates & Hours
Written Wonders will be on display in the Upper Gallery, our vibrant first floor space, during gallery opening times from Wednesday 5 March – Monday 31 March 2025.
The gallery is generally open:
- Monday – Tuesday : 12pm to 4pm
- Wednesday : 11am to 3pm
- Thursday – Sunday : 12pm to 4pm
Please note that the gallery hours may change or the gallery may close at short notice due to private events. To avoid disappointment, please check our most up-to-date opening hours by clicking here or calling us on 020 8348 8716 the day before your visit.
Andrew MacDonald’s practice has always been about people. His work reflects a continual fascination with who we are, how we feel, what our history etches onto our features and our responses and relationship to the world around us. The show will include his twelve Food Bank Portraits completed during 2024 to raise awareness of food poverty, as well as commissioned work.
Highgate Gallery is open:
Wednesday – Fridays: 13.00 – 17.00
Saturday and Sunday: 10.00 – 16.00
7 – 20 March 2025
Written by award-winning journalist Judi Bevan, Too Many Books is a heartfelt, thought-provoking debut play exploring the complexities of international adoption and the emotional journey of parents seeking to create a family.
Set in the 1990s, it follows Daniel and Julia, a couple confronting bureaucratic obstacles, cultural differences, and the pressures on their relationship as they pursue adopting a child from China. As they navigate adoption policies and judgments on their suitability, Daniel and Julia must reconcile their expectations of the adoption process with the stark reality they experience.
This intimate production sheds light on issues of identity, cultural displacement, and the emotional sacrifices parents make. It will resonate deeply with anyone touched by adoption or the longing for family.
Head into Waterlow Park and help us search for the Haft-sin eggs!
Celebrated around the spring equinox, Nowruz heralds the transition from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere. This moment of equilibrium between night and day signifies a fresh start. Preparations for Nowruz commence weeks ahead, involving an extensive cleaning of homes— from carpets to windows, with every family member contributing. This thorough spring-cleaning serves as a symbolic act, washing away the remnants of the past year to make room for positive changes in the upcoming one.
During the joyous celebration, families gather around the Haft-sin table, decorated with with seven foods and spices which represent renewal and prosperity. Each item begins with the letter ‘s’ and has a unique meaning which combine to create a tapestry of wishes and aspirations for the year ahead. Other items, such as a mirror, goldfish, painted eggs, candles, are frequently added, as they also represent life, love, health, and prosperity.
Join us in the park and follow the trail to find our hidden eggs, whilst learning about the ingredients for the Haft-sin! Each egg represents an item, and can be discovered by following the clues on the trail map, which will be available online and for pickup at Lauderdale House at the end of February. Good luck!
Do come along to meet your neighbours, enjoy a good cup of coffee and find out what is happening in Highgate.
The planning committee often have someone on hand to answer planning queries.
Explore the vibrant world of arts and crafts at the Nowruz Bazaar, where creativity meets culture in a celebration of the Persian New Year.
Back by popular demand, Lauderdale House’s Nowruz Bazaar is a feast for the senses, offering a unique opportunity to discover and appreciate the rich artistic heritage associated with this joyous festival. Don’t miss the chance to bring a piece of Nowruz’s artistic spirit into your home, as skilled artisans showcase their talents and share the essence of this ancient tradition.
The Bazaar will take place across the ground floor of Lauderdale House on Saturday 15 March and Sunday 16 March. On Saturday, we will be hosting a series of free talks upstairs in the Long Gallery alongside the Bazaar, and on Sunday, we will host our Nowruz Family Day in the Long Gallery at the same time.
We are delighted to host over 20 different artisans and organisations at our Nowruz Bazaar – get a sneak peek of who is coming below!
Join us for our Nowruz Festival, returning for the second year to Lauderdale House! We are hosting a month-long celebration for Nowruz – also known as Persian New Year – with talks from incredible speakers, a ‘Haft-sin’ Trail, a bazaar, art exhibitions and more.
Nowruz is a tradition celebrated by over 300 million people worldwide for more than 3,000 years. It holds significance in Western Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea Basin, the Balkans, and South Asia. A celebration deeply rooted in Iranian culture, Nowruz serves as a vital element of Iranian identity, fostering a sense of pride in one’s heritage while forging connections with both history and the community. Iranians exhibit commendable dedication in preserving and perpetuating this cherished tradition, ensuring its continuous vibrancy and significance throughout generations.
Often compared to a Paradise Garden with its secret enclaves, ponds and myriad of trees (including a Persian Ironwood tree), Waterlow Park has become a key location for families and friends looking to celebrate throughout the period. We are delighted to bring the party back to Lauderdale House this year under the guidance of our Artist/Curator Mehrdad Aref-Adib.
Please find our 2025 events below:
5 March – 31 March
Between Worlds Exhibition
Lower Gallery
Check gallery hours | FreeWritten Wonders Exhibition
Upper Gallery
Check gallery hours | Free8 March – 3 April
Haft-sin Trail
Waterlow Park
Park opening hours | Free11 March – 3 April
Nowruz by the Women of Yaran Exhibition
Courtyard
Check gallery hours | FreeWednesday 12 March
Nowruz Private View & Festival Launch
7.30-9.30pm | FreeThursday 13 March
Jazz in the House: Kourosh Kanani & Matt Davies
Lower Gallery
8pm | £15.50Saturday 15 March
Nowruz Bazaar
Ground Floor
11am – 5pm | FreeNowruz Talk: New Day: Nowruz in Afghanistan
First Floor
11.30am | Free – please bookNowruz Talk: Manuscripts, miniatures and Marketing Through Art
First Floor
2pm | Free – please bookNowruz Talk: A Tale of Two Journeys
First Floor
4pm | Free – please bookSunday 16 March
Nowruz Bazaar
Ground Floor
11am – 5pm | FreeNowruz Family Day
First Floor
11am – 3pm | FreeFriday 28 March
Myths of Shahnam: Storytelling with Zahra Afsah
First Floor
8pm | £12Monday 31 March
An Evening with Rumi
First Floor
7.30pm | £15.50
Find out more about the many colourful and fascinating traditions of Nowruz from across the world.
Nowruz marks the new year at the point of the vernal equinox, and today, various practices are celebrated worldwide, reflecting the unique cultures and places that have adopted and adapted this ancient tradition.
Join Akbar and Sanobar of Samarkand Palav as they share insights into the Nowruz food traditions of Samarkand in Uzbekistan. Discover the fascinating reasons why only women are allowed to prepare samanu, the iconic Nowruz dessert, while only men are tasked with making haleem, and why it takes an entire day to prepare these special dishes.
Alongside Akbar and Sanobar, speakers from the Afghanistan & Central Asian Association will discuss how Nowruz is celebrated in Afghanistan. This award-winning British charity has been providing invaluable support to refugees and asylum seekers across the UK since 2001.
Part of our Nowruz festival, experience a captivating showcase of visual storytelling as four UK-based Iranian illustrators bring their unique artistic perspectives to Lower Gallery.
Through a fusion of digital, printmaking, and mixed media techniques, Mehrdad Aref-Adib, Sahar Haghgoo, Sahar Khaleghi and Shokoufeh Fallah explore themes of identity, nature, and the interplay between reality and imagination.
Mehrdad Aref-Adib is an Iranian-born, London-based fine artist and illustrator, Mehrdad’s work captures the essence of his dual heritage, weaving together nostalgia, culture, and art with humour. Mehrdad is an important part of the Lauderdale House family and is for the second year curating our entire Nowruz Festival. To learn more about Mehrdad and his work, please visit his Instagram.
Sahar Haghgoo is an illustrator and painter originally from Iran and now based in London. Her work explores the concepts of beauty and the sublime, focusing on the interplay between these two ideas. Sahar examines how beauty can evoke pleasure and satisfaction, while the sublime inspired feelings of awe, respect, and even fear. It seems that by drawing and visualizing monsters, Sahar discovers unknown parts of herself, and by shaping them, she also shapes her own existence and nature. Her work is deeply connected to the aesthetics of nature, exploring themes of monsters in nature, the unknown, change and transformation, and the destruction of beauty. Sahar is particularly interested in exploring this contrast through themes of size and proportion, familiarity and unfamiliarity, and the emotional responses they elicit. She often work with different techniques to capture these nuances and create pieces that invite viewers to consider the complex relationship between these seemingly opposing forces. To learn more about Sahar and her work, please visit her website or her Instagram.
Sahar Khaleghi is an Iranian artist now based in London. Her art passionately addresses the pressing concerns of her homeland. Sahar’s works have been exhibited in numerous countries around the world, including the UK, Germany, Estonia, Greece, and China. In 2018, Sahar was honoured with the Special Award at the International Gold Panda Cartoon and Illustration competition in China. Recently, her art featured prominently at the 52nd Belgrade Golden Pen Illustration Festival exhibition! and has gained recognition in several international magazines. Having grown up as a young woman in Iran, Sahar has choosen to weave modern and historical influences into her art, aiming to illuminate the experiences of women across cultures. Through her creations, Sahar seeks to convey powerful narratives that transcend borders, speaking to the challenges and triumphs of women worldwide. To learn more about Sahar and her work, please visit her website, her Instagram or her Facebook page.
Shokoufeh Fallah is a London-based Iranian Printmaker. While drawing and painting are important parts of her practice, printmaking holds a special place in Shokoufeh’s work thanks to its exquisite texture, its relation to fertility and birth, and the way the tools allow her to reach a world fraught with expressive colours, lines and textures. Shokoufeh is influenced by various themes, from that of womanhood and eroticism, which are ingrained with expressive colours and create intense, two-fold, intermingled spaces, to the reciprocity of life and death, which is accompanied with elements like fish, birds and trees taking away their freedom through rigid lines entangling them. Humans, forms and colours of her works are accompanied with a sort of embroilment, along with a sizzling rhythm which catapults Shokoufeh out from her inner world together with a cultural nostalgia, allowing her to conceive the persistence of life in the outer world through clinging the colours and forms. To learn more about Shokoufeh and her work, please visit her website.
Please join us at the private view of the exhibitions on Wednesday 12 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm and helps us launch our Nowruz Festival.
It is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. We kindly ask that you RSVP via email if you plan on attending to help us get a sense of numbers.
Beyond Worlds will be on display in the Lower Gallery, our airy ground floor room at the front of the House, during gallery opening times from Wednesday 5 March – Monday 31 March 2025.
The gallery is generally open:
- Monday – Tuesday : 12pm to 4pm
- Wednesday : 11am to 3pm
- Thursday – Sunday : 12pm to 4pm
Please note that the gallery hours may change or the gallery may close at short notice due to private events. To avoid disappointment, please check our most up-to-date opening hours by clicking here or calling us on 020 8348 8716 the day before your visit.
We are delighted to exhibit paintings and artificial flowers crafted by Yaran Women’s Club members in celebration of Nowruz.
Yaran Women’s Club is a non-profit constituted organisation and is solely established to help women of all ages who are suffering from isolation and loneliness, anxiety and depression or any other kind of mental health issues. It is a safe place for women and their children.
Yaran’s aim is to promote the members’ emotional health and confidence and to encourage them back to the society. Yaran provides a sense of community and helps women develop friendship through social, educational and free courses and activities. It is a registered charity, non-partisan which does not endorse any political or religious group or position.
The collaborative exhibition was created by women of Yaran and their teacher Mitra, a professional textile artist, combining paintings with artificial flowers. Each member contributed by sticking flowers onto the canvas and textile and painting over them, producing unique and amazing works of art.
Widely observed in various regions, including the Middle East, Asia, the Balkans, and East Africa, Nowruz has evolved with diverse traditions centred around the theme of rebirth. Celebrated around the spring equinox, Nowruz announces the transition from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere. These beautiful works represent not only the rebirth heralded in by Nowruz, but also the transformative power that Yaran Women’s Club has on its members.
Please join us at the private view of the exhibitions on Wednesday 12 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm and helps us launch our Nowruz Festival.
It is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. We kindly ask that you RSVP via email if you plan on attending to help us get a sense of numbers.
Nowruz by the Women of Yaran exhibition will be on display in the Courtyard during gallery opening times from Monday 10 March – Thursday 3 April. The Courtyard is an indoor space which is as our community gallery at the heart of the House.
- Monday – Tuesday : 12 – 4pm
- Wednesday : 11am – 3pm
- Thursday – Sunday : 12 – 4pm
Come and enjoy the beauty of Persian calligraphy as three UK-based Iranian artists bring their visions to Upper Gallery.
This exhibition celebrates the elegance of Persian script, where tradition meets contemporary expression through the hands of skilled calligraphers Tahmineh and Saeid Palizdar and Razieh Riazati.
Tahmineh and Saeid Palizdar are a dynamic father-daughter calligraphy duo who breathe new life into Persian calligraphy, blending heritage with modern interpretations. Their work embodies a deep-rooted passion for the fluidity and elegance of Persian script.
Saeed Palizdar is an accomplished calligrapher with a deep-rooted passion for Persian calligraphy, which he began exploring in Iran in the 1980s. With an extensive background in traditional scripts such as Nastaliq and Shekaste, his work reflects years of dedication to preserving and evolving this ancient art form. Recently, Saeed has been blending modern techniques with traditional calligraphy, incorporating mixed media and acrylic on canvas to create striking compositions. The elegance and precision of his work showcase the timeless beauty of Persian calligraphy, while his exploration of new methods breathes fresh energy into the art.
Tahmineh Palizdar’s work is a vibrant, youthful expression of Persian calligraphy, characterized by bold colours and dynamic forms. Trained from a young age under the guidance of her father, Saeed, she has built upon traditional techniques to create her own distinctive approach. By blending modern sensibilities with classical forms, she brings a playful and experimental element to the art. Through the use of vivid colours, her pieces convey a sense of energy and movement, while still honouring the grace of Persian script. Tahmineh’s work seeks to connect the rich heritage of calligraphy with a contemporary perspective, offering a fresh interpretation that resonates with today’s audience. To learn more about Tahmineh and Saeid, please visit their Instagram.
Razieh Riazati was born in Tehran in 1976. Although she pursued a degree in clinical psychology, her passion for the arts was ever-present. Her journey eventually led her to calligraphy, igniting an enduring fascination with this expressive art form. “Calligraphy feels like a harmonious dance between structure and creativity. Every brushstroke, like words on a canvas, holds boundless meaning.” Razieh’s works are deeply inspired by the poetry of Victor Hugo, Hafez, Rumi, Saadi, and Sohrab Sepehri. Her paintings spontaneously emerge from this poetic influence, using vibrant acrylic and oil colours to capture profound philosophical themes. She eventually founded Raaz Art, a brand with a name that blends her own name and the Farsi word for “mystery,” symbolizing the enigmatic beauty inherent in her creations. To learn more about Razieh and her work, please visit her Instagram.
Private View
Please join us at the private view of the exhibitions on Wednesday 12 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm and helps us launch our Nowruz Festival.
It is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. We kindly ask that you RSVP via email if you plan on attending to help us get a sense of numbers.
Opening Dates & Hours
Written Wonders will be on display in the Upper Gallery, our vibrant first floor space, during gallery opening times from Wednesday 5 March – Monday 31 March 2025.
The gallery is generally open:
- Monday – Tuesday : 12pm to 4pm
- Wednesday : 11am to 3pm
- Thursday – Sunday : 12pm to 4pm
Please note that the gallery hours may change or the gallery may close at short notice due to private events. To avoid disappointment, please check our most up-to-date opening hours by clicking here or calling us on 020 8348 8716 the day before your visit.
Andrew MacDonald’s practice has always been about people. His work reflects a continual fascination with who we are, how we feel, what our history etches onto our features and our responses and relationship to the world around us. The show will include his twelve Food Bank Portraits completed during 2024 to raise awareness of food poverty, as well as commissioned work.
Highgate Gallery is open:
Wednesday – Fridays: 13.00 – 17.00
Saturday and Sunday: 10.00 – 16.00
7 – 20 March 2025
Explore the worlds of Persian art and advertising in this free talk.
Join us as we hear from an artists and a curator: Farkhondeh Ahmadzadeh, Iranian artist based in London and Sean Naghibi, curator of ‘Souvenirs From The Past’.
Speakers
Farkhondeh Ahmadzadeh is an Iranian artist based in London. Her work explores the disciplines of Persian poetry manuscripts, sacred geometry and Persian miniatures. She has lived a rich and adventurous life and has worked both as an academic and artist in Iran, America and Europe. For the last 20 years, Farkhondeh has regularly spent time living and studying under calligraphy masters in Iran. She was awarded the Jerwood prize in 2011 for Islamic traditional art and continues to teach Islamic manuscript and Persian miniature at the Princes School of Traditional Art. Her body of work on Haft Paykar, the epic poem of Nizami has been exhibited in London in 2016 and in Scotland in 2017. Her painting showing the stages of Reza Abbasi’s “ seated man” is on permanent display at Albukary gallery, British Museum.
Sean Naghibi is a London based web/graphic designer and print specialist who runs a small digital design outfit “Today Design”, with particular interest in history and advertising. He is the curator of ‘Souvenirs From The Past’, a diverse array of advertisements that graced Iranian media over five transformative decades. From the dawn of modern advertising in the late 1920s, covering 50 years until the late 1970s. This collection highlights the evolution of marketing strategies, artistic trends, and cultural narratives that defined a nation. His talk will cover the history of Iranian advertising and how it follows trends of the society, the era and people’s spending power.
Come along to Lauderdale House for a talk on two journey: Lois Pryce’s recent journey across Iran and, more than 200 years before, Mirza Saleh Shirazi’s journey from Iran to England.
Author and travel writer, Lois Pryce will share how she received an unusual ‘summons’ in 2011 which led her to embark upon a 3000-mile motorcycle ride around the Islamic Republic of Iran. Incorporating film, music and photography, Lois’ presentation will you tell you more about life in modern Iran than you will learn from any news report.
More than 200 years prior, Mirza Saleh Shirazi chronicled his journey from Iran as one of the first Iranian students sent to England. His story, recounting his encounters, observations, and experiences in England, will be translated for this event by Dr Sudy Anaraki.
Enjoy these two enthralling tales, through time and across continents, and each with their unique perspectives.
Speakers
Lois Pryce, author and travel writer, journey took her traversing the mountains, deserts, cities and villages of Iran – with an ethos of saying ‘yes’ to every invitation – she uncovered a fascinating and misunderstood nation, full of surprises, contradictions and immense kindness, yet laced with an undercurrent of fear and paranoia. Along the way she explored how the West’s relations with Iran have created an image of the country that is wildly out of step with its reality – religious yet hedonistic, practical yet poetic, modern yet rooted in tradition.
Lois’s book about her journey ‘Revolutionary Ride’ was shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Award. Find out more about the book here: https://www.loispryce.com/books/revolutionary-ride/
Dr Sudy Anaraki is a Consultant in Health Protection with a passion for infectious diseases—especially tuberculosis—but she’s just as fascinated by art, literature, and Persian poetry. You might say she enjoys a good sonnet as much as a solid epidemiological study!
After reading Lois Pryce’s book about her journey to Iran, Sudy found herself diving into the writings of Mirza Saleh Shirazi, one of the first Iranian students sent to England over 200 years ago. She was captivated by the contrast between these two journeys—one modern, one historic – and the unique perspectives each traveller brought to their adventures.
Written by award-winning journalist Judi Bevan, Too Many Books is a heartfelt, thought-provoking debut play exploring the complexities of international adoption and the emotional journey of parents seeking to create a family.
Set in the 1990s, it follows Daniel and Julia, a couple confronting bureaucratic obstacles, cultural differences, and the pressures on their relationship as they pursue adopting a child from China. As they navigate adoption policies and judgments on their suitability, Daniel and Julia must reconcile their expectations of the adoption process with the stark reality they experience.
This intimate production sheds light on issues of identity, cultural displacement, and the emotional sacrifices parents make. It will resonate deeply with anyone touched by adoption or the longing for family.
Head into Waterlow Park and help us search for the Haft-sin eggs!
Celebrated around the spring equinox, Nowruz heralds the transition from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere. This moment of equilibrium between night and day signifies a fresh start. Preparations for Nowruz commence weeks ahead, involving an extensive cleaning of homes— from carpets to windows, with every family member contributing. This thorough spring-cleaning serves as a symbolic act, washing away the remnants of the past year to make room for positive changes in the upcoming one.
During the joyous celebration, families gather around the Haft-sin table, decorated with with seven foods and spices which represent renewal and prosperity. Each item begins with the letter ‘s’ and has a unique meaning which combine to create a tapestry of wishes and aspirations for the year ahead. Other items, such as a mirror, goldfish, painted eggs, candles, are frequently added, as they also represent life, love, health, and prosperity.
Join us in the park and follow the trail to find our hidden eggs, whilst learning about the ingredients for the Haft-sin! Each egg represents an item, and can be discovered by following the clues on the trail map, which will be available online and for pickup at Lauderdale House at the end of February. Good luck!
Explore the vibrant world of arts and crafts at the Nowruz Bazaar, where creativity meets culture in a celebration of the Persian New Year.
Back by popular demand, Lauderdale House’s Nowruz Bazaar is a feast for the senses, offering a unique opportunity to discover and appreciate the rich artistic heritage associated with this joyous festival. Don’t miss the chance to bring a piece of Nowruz’s artistic spirit into your home, as skilled artisans showcase their talents and share the essence of this ancient tradition.
The Bazaar will take place across the ground floor of Lauderdale House on Saturday 15 March and Sunday 16 March. On Saturday, we will be hosting a series of free talks upstairs in the Long Gallery alongside the Bazaar, and on Sunday, we will host our Nowruz Family Day in the Long Gallery at the same time.
We are delighted to host over 20 different artisans and organisations at our Nowruz Bazaar – get a sneak peek of who is coming below!
Fun for all ages, come and learn more about Nowruz with Persian-inspired crafts!
This free workshop is a great way to celebrate (or introduce) Persian New Year with your little ones. Lauderdale House will have Haft-sin colouring pages and a Persian-inspired tile craft. Our younger artists will have a paper mosaic option (ages 3-6), and our more experienced artists can have a go at printing their own patterns (ages 6-10).
This interactive experience will foster creativity and a deeper connection to the rich traditions of Nowruz.
Drop on in between 11pm to 3pm, and please bring your parents or carers – no unaccompanied children.
Join us for our Nowruz Festival, returning for the second year to Lauderdale House! We are hosting a month-long celebration for Nowruz – also known as Persian New Year – with talks from incredible speakers, a ‘Haft-sin’ Trail, a bazaar, art exhibitions and more.
Nowruz is a tradition celebrated by over 300 million people worldwide for more than 3,000 years. It holds significance in Western Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea Basin, the Balkans, and South Asia. A celebration deeply rooted in Iranian culture, Nowruz serves as a vital element of Iranian identity, fostering a sense of pride in one’s heritage while forging connections with both history and the community. Iranians exhibit commendable dedication in preserving and perpetuating this cherished tradition, ensuring its continuous vibrancy and significance throughout generations.
Often compared to a Paradise Garden with its secret enclaves, ponds and myriad of trees (including a Persian Ironwood tree), Waterlow Park has become a key location for families and friends looking to celebrate throughout the period. We are delighted to bring the party back to Lauderdale House this year under the guidance of our Artist/Curator Mehrdad Aref-Adib.
Please find our 2025 events below:
5 March – 31 March
Between Worlds Exhibition
Lower Gallery
Check gallery hours | FreeWritten Wonders Exhibition
Upper Gallery
Check gallery hours | Free8 March – 3 April
Haft-sin Trail
Waterlow Park
Park opening hours | Free11 March – 3 April
Nowruz by the Women of Yaran Exhibition
Courtyard
Check gallery hours | FreeWednesday 12 March
Nowruz Private View & Festival Launch
7.30-9.30pm | FreeThursday 13 March
Jazz in the House: Kourosh Kanani & Matt Davies
Lower Gallery
8pm | £15.50Saturday 15 March
Nowruz Bazaar
Ground Floor
11am – 5pm | FreeNowruz Talk: New Day: Nowruz in Afghanistan
First Floor
11.30am | Free – please bookNowruz Talk: Manuscripts, miniatures and Marketing Through Art
First Floor
2pm | Free – please bookNowruz Talk: A Tale of Two Journeys
First Floor
4pm | Free – please bookSunday 16 March
Nowruz Bazaar
Ground Floor
11am – 5pm | FreeNowruz Family Day
First Floor
11am – 3pm | FreeFriday 28 March
Myths of Shahnam: Storytelling with Zahra Afsah
First Floor
8pm | £12Monday 31 March
An Evening with Rumi
First Floor
7.30pm | £15.50
Part of our Nowruz festival, experience a captivating showcase of visual storytelling as four UK-based Iranian illustrators bring their unique artistic perspectives to Lower Gallery.
Through a fusion of digital, printmaking, and mixed media techniques, Mehrdad Aref-Adib, Sahar Haghgoo, Sahar Khaleghi and Shokoufeh Fallah explore themes of identity, nature, and the interplay between reality and imagination.
Mehrdad Aref-Adib is an Iranian-born, London-based fine artist and illustrator, Mehrdad’s work captures the essence of his dual heritage, weaving together nostalgia, culture, and art with humour. Mehrdad is an important part of the Lauderdale House family and is for the second year curating our entire Nowruz Festival. To learn more about Mehrdad and his work, please visit his Instagram.
Sahar Haghgoo is an illustrator and painter originally from Iran and now based in London. Her work explores the concepts of beauty and the sublime, focusing on the interplay between these two ideas. Sahar examines how beauty can evoke pleasure and satisfaction, while the sublime inspired feelings of awe, respect, and even fear. It seems that by drawing and visualizing monsters, Sahar discovers unknown parts of herself, and by shaping them, she also shapes her own existence and nature. Her work is deeply connected to the aesthetics of nature, exploring themes of monsters in nature, the unknown, change and transformation, and the destruction of beauty. Sahar is particularly interested in exploring this contrast through themes of size and proportion, familiarity and unfamiliarity, and the emotional responses they elicit. She often work with different techniques to capture these nuances and create pieces that invite viewers to consider the complex relationship between these seemingly opposing forces. To learn more about Sahar and her work, please visit her website or her Instagram.
Sahar Khaleghi is an Iranian artist now based in London. Her art passionately addresses the pressing concerns of her homeland. Sahar’s works have been exhibited in numerous countries around the world, including the UK, Germany, Estonia, Greece, and China. In 2018, Sahar was honoured with the Special Award at the International Gold Panda Cartoon and Illustration competition in China. Recently, her art featured prominently at the 52nd Belgrade Golden Pen Illustration Festival exhibition! and has gained recognition in several international magazines. Having grown up as a young woman in Iran, Sahar has choosen to weave modern and historical influences into her art, aiming to illuminate the experiences of women across cultures. Through her creations, Sahar seeks to convey powerful narratives that transcend borders, speaking to the challenges and triumphs of women worldwide. To learn more about Sahar and her work, please visit her website, her Instagram or her Facebook page.
Shokoufeh Fallah is a London-based Iranian Printmaker. While drawing and painting are important parts of her practice, printmaking holds a special place in Shokoufeh’s work thanks to its exquisite texture, its relation to fertility and birth, and the way the tools allow her to reach a world fraught with expressive colours, lines and textures. Shokoufeh is influenced by various themes, from that of womanhood and eroticism, which are ingrained with expressive colours and create intense, two-fold, intermingled spaces, to the reciprocity of life and death, which is accompanied with elements like fish, birds and trees taking away their freedom through rigid lines entangling them. Humans, forms and colours of her works are accompanied with a sort of embroilment, along with a sizzling rhythm which catapults Shokoufeh out from her inner world together with a cultural nostalgia, allowing her to conceive the persistence of life in the outer world through clinging the colours and forms. To learn more about Shokoufeh and her work, please visit her website.
Please join us at the private view of the exhibitions on Wednesday 12 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm and helps us launch our Nowruz Festival.
It is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. We kindly ask that you RSVP via email if you plan on attending to help us get a sense of numbers.
Beyond Worlds will be on display in the Lower Gallery, our airy ground floor room at the front of the House, during gallery opening times from Wednesday 5 March – Monday 31 March 2025.
The gallery is generally open:
- Monday – Tuesday : 12pm to 4pm
- Wednesday : 11am to 3pm
- Thursday – Sunday : 12pm to 4pm
Please note that the gallery hours may change or the gallery may close at short notice due to private events. To avoid disappointment, please check our most up-to-date opening hours by clicking here or calling us on 020 8348 8716 the day before your visit.
We are delighted to exhibit paintings and artificial flowers crafted by Yaran Women’s Club members in celebration of Nowruz.
Yaran Women’s Club is a non-profit constituted organisation and is solely established to help women of all ages who are suffering from isolation and loneliness, anxiety and depression or any other kind of mental health issues. It is a safe place for women and their children.
Yaran’s aim is to promote the members’ emotional health and confidence and to encourage them back to the society. Yaran provides a sense of community and helps women develop friendship through social, educational and free courses and activities. It is a registered charity, non-partisan which does not endorse any political or religious group or position.
The collaborative exhibition was created by women of Yaran and their teacher Mitra, a professional textile artist, combining paintings with artificial flowers. Each member contributed by sticking flowers onto the canvas and textile and painting over them, producing unique and amazing works of art.
Widely observed in various regions, including the Middle East, Asia, the Balkans, and East Africa, Nowruz has evolved with diverse traditions centred around the theme of rebirth. Celebrated around the spring equinox, Nowruz announces the transition from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere. These beautiful works represent not only the rebirth heralded in by Nowruz, but also the transformative power that Yaran Women’s Club has on its members.
Please join us at the private view of the exhibitions on Wednesday 12 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm and helps us launch our Nowruz Festival.
It is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. We kindly ask that you RSVP via email if you plan on attending to help us get a sense of numbers.
Nowruz by the Women of Yaran exhibition will be on display in the Courtyard during gallery opening times from Monday 10 March – Thursday 3 April. The Courtyard is an indoor space which is as our community gallery at the heart of the House.
- Monday – Tuesday : 12 – 4pm
- Wednesday : 11am – 3pm
- Thursday – Sunday : 12 – 4pm
Come and enjoy the beauty of Persian calligraphy as three UK-based Iranian artists bring their visions to Upper Gallery.
This exhibition celebrates the elegance of Persian script, where tradition meets contemporary expression through the hands of skilled calligraphers Tahmineh and Saeid Palizdar and Razieh Riazati.
Tahmineh and Saeid Palizdar are a dynamic father-daughter calligraphy duo who breathe new life into Persian calligraphy, blending heritage with modern interpretations. Their work embodies a deep-rooted passion for the fluidity and elegance of Persian script.
Saeed Palizdar is an accomplished calligrapher with a deep-rooted passion for Persian calligraphy, which he began exploring in Iran in the 1980s. With an extensive background in traditional scripts such as Nastaliq and Shekaste, his work reflects years of dedication to preserving and evolving this ancient art form. Recently, Saeed has been blending modern techniques with traditional calligraphy, incorporating mixed media and acrylic on canvas to create striking compositions. The elegance and precision of his work showcase the timeless beauty of Persian calligraphy, while his exploration of new methods breathes fresh energy into the art.
Tahmineh Palizdar’s work is a vibrant, youthful expression of Persian calligraphy, characterized by bold colours and dynamic forms. Trained from a young age under the guidance of her father, Saeed, she has built upon traditional techniques to create her own distinctive approach. By blending modern sensibilities with classical forms, she brings a playful and experimental element to the art. Through the use of vivid colours, her pieces convey a sense of energy and movement, while still honouring the grace of Persian script. Tahmineh’s work seeks to connect the rich heritage of calligraphy with a contemporary perspective, offering a fresh interpretation that resonates with today’s audience. To learn more about Tahmineh and Saeid, please visit their Instagram.
Razieh Riazati was born in Tehran in 1976. Although she pursued a degree in clinical psychology, her passion for the arts was ever-present. Her journey eventually led her to calligraphy, igniting an enduring fascination with this expressive art form. “Calligraphy feels like a harmonious dance between structure and creativity. Every brushstroke, like words on a canvas, holds boundless meaning.” Razieh’s works are deeply inspired by the poetry of Victor Hugo, Hafez, Rumi, Saadi, and Sohrab Sepehri. Her paintings spontaneously emerge from this poetic influence, using vibrant acrylic and oil colours to capture profound philosophical themes. She eventually founded Raaz Art, a brand with a name that blends her own name and the Farsi word for “mystery,” symbolizing the enigmatic beauty inherent in her creations. To learn more about Razieh and her work, please visit her Instagram.
Private View
Please join us at the private view of the exhibitions on Wednesday 12 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm and helps us launch our Nowruz Festival.
It is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. We kindly ask that you RSVP via email if you plan on attending to help us get a sense of numbers.
Opening Dates & Hours
Written Wonders will be on display in the Upper Gallery, our vibrant first floor space, during gallery opening times from Wednesday 5 March – Monday 31 March 2025.
The gallery is generally open:
- Monday – Tuesday : 12pm to 4pm
- Wednesday : 11am to 3pm
- Thursday – Sunday : 12pm to 4pm
Please note that the gallery hours may change or the gallery may close at short notice due to private events. To avoid disappointment, please check our most up-to-date opening hours by clicking here or calling us on 020 8348 8716 the day before your visit.
Andrew MacDonald’s practice has always been about people. His work reflects a continual fascination with who we are, how we feel, what our history etches onto our features and our responses and relationship to the world around us. The show will include his twelve Food Bank Portraits completed during 2024 to raise awareness of food poverty, as well as commissioned work.
Highgate Gallery is open:
Wednesday – Fridays: 13.00 – 17.00
Saturday and Sunday: 10.00 – 16.00
7 – 20 March 2025
Written by award-winning journalist Judi Bevan, Too Many Books is a heartfelt, thought-provoking debut play exploring the complexities of international adoption and the emotional journey of parents seeking to create a family.
Set in the 1990s, it follows Daniel and Julia, a couple confronting bureaucratic obstacles, cultural differences, and the pressures on their relationship as they pursue adopting a child from China. As they navigate adoption policies and judgments on their suitability, Daniel and Julia must reconcile their expectations of the adoption process with the stark reality they experience.
This intimate production sheds light on issues of identity, cultural displacement, and the emotional sacrifices parents make. It will resonate deeply with anyone touched by adoption or the longing for family.
Head into Waterlow Park and help us search for the Haft-sin eggs!
Celebrated around the spring equinox, Nowruz heralds the transition from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere. This moment of equilibrium between night and day signifies a fresh start. Preparations for Nowruz commence weeks ahead, involving an extensive cleaning of homes— from carpets to windows, with every family member contributing. This thorough spring-cleaning serves as a symbolic act, washing away the remnants of the past year to make room for positive changes in the upcoming one.
During the joyous celebration, families gather around the Haft-sin table, decorated with with seven foods and spices which represent renewal and prosperity. Each item begins with the letter ‘s’ and has a unique meaning which combine to create a tapestry of wishes and aspirations for the year ahead. Other items, such as a mirror, goldfish, painted eggs, candles, are frequently added, as they also represent life, love, health, and prosperity.
Join us in the park and follow the trail to find our hidden eggs, whilst learning about the ingredients for the Haft-sin! Each egg represents an item, and can be discovered by following the clues on the trail map, which will be available online and for pickup at Lauderdale House at the end of February. Good luck!
Join us for our Nowruz Festival, returning for the second year to Lauderdale House! We are hosting a month-long celebration for Nowruz – also known as Persian New Year – with talks from incredible speakers, a ‘Haft-sin’ Trail, a bazaar, art exhibitions and more.
Nowruz is a tradition celebrated by over 300 million people worldwide for more than 3,000 years. It holds significance in Western Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea Basin, the Balkans, and South Asia. A celebration deeply rooted in Iranian culture, Nowruz serves as a vital element of Iranian identity, fostering a sense of pride in one’s heritage while forging connections with both history and the community. Iranians exhibit commendable dedication in preserving and perpetuating this cherished tradition, ensuring its continuous vibrancy and significance throughout generations.
Often compared to a Paradise Garden with its secret enclaves, ponds and myriad of trees (including a Persian Ironwood tree), Waterlow Park has become a key location for families and friends looking to celebrate throughout the period. We are delighted to bring the party back to Lauderdale House this year under the guidance of our Artist/Curator Mehrdad Aref-Adib.
Please find our 2025 events below:
5 March – 31 March
Between Worlds Exhibition
Lower Gallery
Check gallery hours | FreeWritten Wonders Exhibition
Upper Gallery
Check gallery hours | Free8 March – 3 April
Haft-sin Trail
Waterlow Park
Park opening hours | Free11 March – 3 April
Nowruz by the Women of Yaran Exhibition
Courtyard
Check gallery hours | FreeWednesday 12 March
Nowruz Private View & Festival Launch
7.30-9.30pm | FreeThursday 13 March
Jazz in the House: Kourosh Kanani & Matt Davies
Lower Gallery
8pm | £15.50Saturday 15 March
Nowruz Bazaar
Ground Floor
11am – 5pm | FreeNowruz Talk: New Day: Nowruz in Afghanistan
First Floor
11.30am | Free – please bookNowruz Talk: Manuscripts, miniatures and Marketing Through Art
First Floor
2pm | Free – please bookNowruz Talk: A Tale of Two Journeys
First Floor
4pm | Free – please bookSunday 16 March
Nowruz Bazaar
Ground Floor
11am – 5pm | FreeNowruz Family Day
First Floor
11am – 3pm | FreeFriday 28 March
Myths of Shahnam: Storytelling with Zahra Afsah
First Floor
8pm | £12Monday 31 March
An Evening with Rumi
First Floor
7.30pm | £15.50
Part of our Nowruz festival, experience a captivating showcase of visual storytelling as four UK-based Iranian illustrators bring their unique artistic perspectives to Lower Gallery.
Through a fusion of digital, printmaking, and mixed media techniques, Mehrdad Aref-Adib, Sahar Haghgoo, Sahar Khaleghi and Shokoufeh Fallah explore themes of identity, nature, and the interplay between reality and imagination.
Mehrdad Aref-Adib is an Iranian-born, London-based fine artist and illustrator, Mehrdad’s work captures the essence of his dual heritage, weaving together nostalgia, culture, and art with humour. Mehrdad is an important part of the Lauderdale House family and is for the second year curating our entire Nowruz Festival. To learn more about Mehrdad and his work, please visit his Instagram.
Sahar Haghgoo is an illustrator and painter originally from Iran and now based in London. Her work explores the concepts of beauty and the sublime, focusing on the interplay between these two ideas. Sahar examines how beauty can evoke pleasure and satisfaction, while the sublime inspired feelings of awe, respect, and even fear. It seems that by drawing and visualizing monsters, Sahar discovers unknown parts of herself, and by shaping them, she also shapes her own existence and nature. Her work is deeply connected to the aesthetics of nature, exploring themes of monsters in nature, the unknown, change and transformation, and the destruction of beauty. Sahar is particularly interested in exploring this contrast through themes of size and proportion, familiarity and unfamiliarity, and the emotional responses they elicit. She often work with different techniques to capture these nuances and create pieces that invite viewers to consider the complex relationship between these seemingly opposing forces. To learn more about Sahar and her work, please visit her website or her Instagram.
Sahar Khaleghi is an Iranian artist now based in London. Her art passionately addresses the pressing concerns of her homeland. Sahar’s works have been exhibited in numerous countries around the world, including the UK, Germany, Estonia, Greece, and China. In 2018, Sahar was honoured with the Special Award at the International Gold Panda Cartoon and Illustration competition in China. Recently, her art featured prominently at the 52nd Belgrade Golden Pen Illustration Festival exhibition! and has gained recognition in several international magazines. Having grown up as a young woman in Iran, Sahar has choosen to weave modern and historical influences into her art, aiming to illuminate the experiences of women across cultures. Through her creations, Sahar seeks to convey powerful narratives that transcend borders, speaking to the challenges and triumphs of women worldwide. To learn more about Sahar and her work, please visit her website, her Instagram or her Facebook page.
Shokoufeh Fallah is a London-based Iranian Printmaker. While drawing and painting are important parts of her practice, printmaking holds a special place in Shokoufeh’s work thanks to its exquisite texture, its relation to fertility and birth, and the way the tools allow her to reach a world fraught with expressive colours, lines and textures. Shokoufeh is influenced by various themes, from that of womanhood and eroticism, which are ingrained with expressive colours and create intense, two-fold, intermingled spaces, to the reciprocity of life and death, which is accompanied with elements like fish, birds and trees taking away their freedom through rigid lines entangling them. Humans, forms and colours of her works are accompanied with a sort of embroilment, along with a sizzling rhythm which catapults Shokoufeh out from her inner world together with a cultural nostalgia, allowing her to conceive the persistence of life in the outer world through clinging the colours and forms. To learn more about Shokoufeh and her work, please visit her website.
Please join us at the private view of the exhibitions on Wednesday 12 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm and helps us launch our Nowruz Festival.
It is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. We kindly ask that you RSVP via email if you plan on attending to help us get a sense of numbers.
Beyond Worlds will be on display in the Lower Gallery, our airy ground floor room at the front of the House, during gallery opening times from Wednesday 5 March – Monday 31 March 2025.
The gallery is generally open:
- Monday – Tuesday : 12pm to 4pm
- Wednesday : 11am to 3pm
- Thursday – Sunday : 12pm to 4pm
Please note that the gallery hours may change or the gallery may close at short notice due to private events. To avoid disappointment, please check our most up-to-date opening hours by clicking here or calling us on 020 8348 8716 the day before your visit.
We are delighted to exhibit paintings and artificial flowers crafted by Yaran Women’s Club members in celebration of Nowruz.
Yaran Women’s Club is a non-profit constituted organisation and is solely established to help women of all ages who are suffering from isolation and loneliness, anxiety and depression or any other kind of mental health issues. It is a safe place for women and their children.
Yaran’s aim is to promote the members’ emotional health and confidence and to encourage them back to the society. Yaran provides a sense of community and helps women develop friendship through social, educational and free courses and activities. It is a registered charity, non-partisan which does not endorse any political or religious group or position.
The collaborative exhibition was created by women of Yaran and their teacher Mitra, a professional textile artist, combining paintings with artificial flowers. Each member contributed by sticking flowers onto the canvas and textile and painting over them, producing unique and amazing works of art.
Widely observed in various regions, including the Middle East, Asia, the Balkans, and East Africa, Nowruz has evolved with diverse traditions centred around the theme of rebirth. Celebrated around the spring equinox, Nowruz announces the transition from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere. These beautiful works represent not only the rebirth heralded in by Nowruz, but also the transformative power that Yaran Women’s Club has on its members.
Please join us at the private view of the exhibitions on Wednesday 12 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm and helps us launch our Nowruz Festival.
It is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. We kindly ask that you RSVP via email if you plan on attending to help us get a sense of numbers.
Nowruz by the Women of Yaran exhibition will be on display in the Courtyard during gallery opening times from Monday 10 March – Thursday 3 April. The Courtyard is an indoor space which is as our community gallery at the heart of the House.
- Monday – Tuesday : 12 – 4pm
- Wednesday : 11am – 3pm
- Thursday – Sunday : 12 – 4pm