'Iran Modern' Exhibit At The Asia Society Illuminates 20 Years Of Contemporary Art In Tehran (PHOTOS)

In "Argo," we see a mob of angry Iranians storming the embassy during the 1979 revolution, and in "Reading Lolita in Tehran," the protagonist returns to a repressive country in turmoil. These examples are just the tip of the iceberg with respect to depictions of Iran as a country intolerant of artistic expression and individual rights.

Yet the new exhibit at the Asia Society offers another Iran, one with a rich art-driven culture in the 20 years leading up to the Iranian Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War. In September, New Yorkers will view the first major exhibit of Iranian modern art in the U.S. Titled, "Iran Modern," the exhibit will showcase 100 works from the 1950s-1970s in Tehran, exposing the flourishing art scene of the capital city.

"Iran Modern" is on view from at the Asia Society in New York from September 6, 2013 to January 5, 2014.