Art Basel’s ‘Meet the artists’ series presents contemporary creatives shaping today’s cultural landscape

Celebrated Iranian-American artist Shirin Neshat offers a glimpse into her world during a studio visit in New York City. Leaving Iran at 17 to study in Berkley, she was unable to return home due to the onset of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. For the last 50 years, she has resided in the US, creating work that captures the experiences of those living under fundamentalist regimes. Her practice – spanning film, photography, and more recently, opera – delves into profound themes including women’s resilience in the face of oppression and the potent intersections of violence, beauty, and mysticism. ‘Through my life and my work, the greatest inspiration for me has been Iranian women. They’ve always been survivors, oppressed but survivors – and rebellious,’ she says.

In this episode of ‘Meet the artists,’ Neshat reflects on art, identity, and political discourse, highlighting the complexities of her hybrid existence between her Iranian roots and Western life. ‘There’s this constant duality in me, in the way I live, the way I look, and the way my work is informed,’ she shares.

Shirin Neshat is represented by Gladstone Gallery, Goodman Gallery, and Lia Rumma. Her film, The Fury (2022), will be presented at El Espacio 23 as part of the group show ‘Mirror of the Mind: Figuration in the Jorge M. Pérez Collection’ from November 7, 2024–August 15, 2025.