Inner Fragments

An exhibition of contemporary Iranian female artists.

January 10 – February 14, 2020

Reception: January 10, 6–8PM  

After 2500 years of monarchial rule, the 1979 Islamic Revolution turned Iran on its head. As a result, the dynamics of Iran’s art scene also transformed. A generation of artists was born after the revolution who endured the aftermath of the revolution and the Iran-Iraq war, which brought with it a series of intense political circumstances, sanctions, and isolationism. As such, their artistic expression took a distinct turn of varying styles and genres. Their work is subtle, intimate, and offers a deeper insight into their existence.

Inner Fragments, co-curated by Mahsa Soroudi and Parisa Ghaderi, is an exhibition of sixteen Iranian female artists, most of whom live and work inside Iran. It portrays a slice of Iranian women’s lives that is insightful and also shatters the typical cliched themes of the hijab and oppression. Given the current climate between the U.S. and Iran, this show aims to transcend geographical and political boundaries. The curators hope to close the gap between the two nations by highlighting the new wave of contemporary Iranian art as a way to understand modern Iran. 

This exhibition was made possible thanks to support from the Michigan Arts and Humanities Touring Grant Program, MSU College of Arts and Letters, Department of Art, Art History, and Design, Department of English, and Muslim Studies Program. 

Featuring work by:

  • Mahshid Asoudehkhah
  • Ghazaleh Baniahmad
  • Nasim Davari
  • Sanaz Dezfoulian
  • Narcisse E. Esfanhani
  • Maryam Farahzadi
  • Elahe Farzi
  • Farzane Ghadianloo
  • Mahsa Khazeni
  • Niloofar Mohammadifar
  • Neda Moin Afshari
  • Farnaz Rabieijah
  • Azadeh Ramezani Tabrizi
  • Nastaran Safaei
  • Tarlan Tabar
  • Nazli Tahvili