Arriving in America, Mohammad Mottahedan was eager to play a part in the golden age of New York contemporary art and build relationships with many leading artists of the period. He saw in their work a contemporary view of the American dream and set about assembling a comprehensive collection of historically important works, favoring large formats, vivid colors and strong forms. More recently, Mohammad Mottahedan has extended his collecting to the young British art scene.

Once Upon a Time in America assembles over 80 works by iconic American artists of the 1980s, from Jeff Koons and Peter Halley to Carroll Durham and Tim Rollins as well as pieces by successful young British artists such as Mat Collishaw and Michael Landy. This fully illustrated book provides not only a catalogue of an exceptional private collection, but also a fascinating snapshot of the 1980s.