Zhila Hodaee, an Iranian illustrator and visual artist, has passed away in Tehran. She was an active figure in illustration and the visual arts, best known for her distinct mixed-media approach combining painting and collage techniques.
Recurring themes in Hodaee’s body of work included women and young girls, childhood memories, dreams, fantasy, and identity. Visually, her pieces were characterised by dark backgrounds, simplified yet symbolic facial features, and the seamless integration of collage with painted elements.
Hodaee was also a prolific illustrator of children’s literature. In 2014, she became one of only three Iranian illustrators selected for the prestigious Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition, where her submissions were chosen among 75 featured artists out of more than 3,000 global participants.
In 2019, Hodaee was named among the selected Iranian artists at the 50th Golden Pen of Belgrade International Biennial of Illustration, appearing on a shortlist of 17 featured Iranian illustrators.
Among her notable works was a piece submitted to Taiwan depicting a young girl seeking refuge in a world of fantasy, which gained recognition on a Taiwanese art blog as a standout example of creative illustration. Throughout her career, Hodaee collaborated closely with Shabaviz Publishing on children’s book projects and participated in numerous international illustration showcases, including biennials and exhibitions in Bologna, Italy.
