(1957 on) – Visual Artist

Shirin Neshat is an Iranian visual artist who lives in New York City, known primarily for her work in film, video and photography. Her artwork centres on the contrasts between Islam and the West, femininity and masculinity, public life and private life, antiquity and modernity, and bridging the spaces between these subjects. She has said that she ‘gravitated toward making art that is concerned with tyranny, dictatorship, oppression and political injustice. Although I don’t consider myself an activist, I believe my art – regardless of its nature – is an expression of protest, a cry for humanity.’ Neshat won the International Award of the XLVIII Venice Biennale in 1999 and the Silver Lion as the best director at the 66th Venice Film Festival in 2009.  

Shirin’s artwork has always resonated with me over most other women artists.  It is beautiful, meditative work with real depth of meaning especially pertaining to feminism and human rights.

Lucy Davies

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirin_Neshat