About Shirin Neshat
Shirin Neshat is a seminal figure in contemporary art, internationally acclaimed for her powerful engagement with identity, gender, politics, and cultural displacement. Born in Iran in 1957 and living in exile, Neshat draws on personal and collective histories to examine the tensions between tradition, power, and individual freedom. Her groundbreaking photographic series Women of Allah brought global recognition through striking black-and-white portraits of veiled women inscribed with Persian calligraphy, confronting themes of femininity, Islam, resistance, and agency within Iranian society.
By appropriating calligraphy, a form historically dominated by men in Islamic art, Neshat subverts gender hierarchies and challenges entrenched political and cultural narratives. Working across photography, video, and film, she creates emotionally charged works that resonate far beyond their immediate context. Her acclaimed feature film Women Without Men weaves together the lives of four women during a pivotal moment in Iran’s political history, offering a poetic yet critical reflection on female subjectivity, repression, and resilience.
Despite addressing censorship, exile, and oppression, Neshat’s contemporary artworks are marked by defiance and lyrical strength. Her practice continues to inspire dialogue around human rights and social justice, earning major international recognition, including the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale. Today, Shirin Neshat remains a vital voice in contemporary art, with her photographs and film works highly sought after by collectors, institutions, and those seeking museum-quality art editions and limited edition prints.
