International media and art critics have warmly welcomed an exhibition of paintings by female Iranian artists, which was held in Brussels, Belgium.

According to Tehran's Elaheh Gallery, a co-sponsor of the event, the exhibition attracted many visitors to the Hotel de Ville, Saint-Gilles where it ran from March 4 to 14, 2011.

“Ten Iranian Female Painters, After Ten Years” displayed paintings by a group of veteran female artists including Farah Osouli, Aria Eqbal, Mina Ghaziani, Firouzeh Amini, Maryam Shirinlou, Maryam Hashemi, Manijeh Rahim-Tabrizi, Masoumeh Mozaffari and Maryam Khazaei.

Co-sponsored by Tehran's Elaheh Gallery and the Belgium-based Iranian art expert Fery Malak-Madani, the exhibition showcased the artistic development of the painters during the past decade.

“The paintings by these ten artists were also displayed in Brussels in 2001 and were welcomed by visitors,” said Elaheh Gallery curator Elaheh Javaheri.

“We, therefore, asked them to showcase some of the works they created during the past ten years in another exhibition in Brussels,” she added.

Iran has many outstanding artists and it's the art galleries' responsibility to introduce these talented individuals to the world, Javaheri said, adding that Elaheh Gallery tried its best to promote Persian art across the world.

“Men and women are equal and Iranian art is indebted to both male and female artists,” she said, stressing that female artists have played a great role in promoting Iranian art during the past decade.

Aria Eqbal, whose works were displayed at the Hotel de Ville, described the exhibition as a very influential and attractive cultural event, Mehr News Agency reported.

“I believe persistence and perseverance is good in any task, but unfortunately we are only enchanted by fleeting moments,” she said.