The independent art space, Raf, celebrated its opening on 19th October 2012. It is founded by Alireza Labeshka, curator and artist as a not-for-profit space for art beyond the hierarchies of the art markets in Iran and Middle East. Regarding to its tendency to contemporary critical theories and its relation and dialog with new art, Raf has invited international as well as Iranian visual artists to present their ideas to an advanced audience of artists, curators, critics, collectors, as well as humanity students, and galerists.