Born in Baltimore, MD in 1971. Raised in Passaic County, NJ.
Solo and Two-Person Exhibitions
| 2022 | Le Caftan, Le Turban, Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, Arlington, VA |
| 2018 | The Taking, Cody Gallery, Marymount University, Arlington, VA |
| Fantasy Will Set You Free, Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, Arlington, VA | |
| 2013 | The Consumption, Leila Heller Gallery, NY |
| 2009 | Pride and Fall, Leila Heller Gallery, NY |
| 2008 | A Precious Passing, Two-Person Show with Kyung Jeon, Miki Wick Kim Gallery, Zurich |
| 2007 | The Birth of Pattern, LMAK Projects (Williamsburg), curated by Sara Reisman, Brooklyn, NY |
Selected Group Exhibitions
| 2023- | Group exhibition at the Chief of Mission Residence in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (curated by Welmoed Laanstra, Art in Embassies) (ongoing) | 2023 | Hot Goss (curated by Amanda Jirón-Murphy), MOCA Arlington, Arlington, VA |
| 2020 | Which Yesterday Is Tomorrow, works included in an exhibition/installation of artists Dahlia Elsayed and Andrew Demirjian, Transformer Gallery, Washington, DC |
| 2019 | The Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize Finalists Exhibition, The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD |
| The Beyond: Georgia O'Keeffe and Contemporary Art, (extended) The New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT | |
| The Beyond: Georgia O'Keeffe and Contemporary Art, (extended) North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC | |
| mensch in moll (curated by Marcus Bjernerup), inter port, Berlin | |
| Between Spirit and Magic (curated by Jaishri Abichandani), Rossi and Rossi Gallery, Hong Kong | |
| Distance: Works on Paper by Skowhegan Alumni (curated by Betsy Alwin and Steve Locke), Dorsky Gallery, Long Island City, NY | |
| Convergence (curated by Holly Koons), Wyatt Gallery, Arlington Arts Center, Arlington, VA | |
| 2018 | The Beyond: Georgia O'Keeffe and Contemporary Art, (extended) North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC |
| The Beyond: Georgia O'Keeffe and Contemporary Art, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR | |
| 2017 | SVA x Skowhegan (curated by Lauren Haynes), SVA Chelsea Gallery, New York, NY |
| Sacred Ground: Pluralism, Prejudice and the Promise of America, The William Benton Museum of Art, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT | |
| Instinctive Naturalness, Grizzly Grizzly, Philadelphia, PA | |
| Art on the Art Bus (site specific installation on an Arlington Transit bus), Arlington, VA | |
| 2016 | Sheherzade's Gift: Subversive Narratives (curated by Jaishri Abichandani), The Center for Book Arts, New York, NY |
| United In Passion And Pride, 39th Street Gallery, Gateway Art Center, Brentwood, MD | |
| 2014 | Fires Will Burn: Politically Engaged Art from the Permanent Collection, DePaul Art Museum, Chicago, IL |
| Aftershock: The Impact of Radical Art, Edelman Arts, NY | |
| Look At Me: Portraiture From Manet to the Present, Leila Heller Gallery, NY | |
| 2012 | The Fertile Crescent: Gender, Art and Society in the Middle East Disapora, Rutgers University Douglas Library, New Brunswick, NJ and The Bernstein Gallery, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ |
| The Rule and Its Exception, Leila Heller Gallery / Deborah Colton Gallery, Houston, TX | |
| 2011 | Dis(locating) Culture: Contemporary Islamic Art in America |
| womenartists@newbritainmuseum, New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT | |
| 2010 | Tehran-New York, Leila Heller Gallery, NY |
| East Meets West on the West End, Tripoli Gallery, Southampton, NY | |
| Art Dubai, Leila Heller Gallery, Dubai, UAE | |
| Iran Inside Out, Farjam Collection, UAE | |
| 2009 | Iran Inside Out, Chelsea Art Museum, NY and Depaul University Art Museum, Chicago, IL |
| If I Didn't Care: Multigenerational Artists Discuss Cultural Histories, Richman Gallery, The Park School, Baltimore, MD | |
| The Seen and the Hidden: (Dis)Covering the Veil, Austrian Cultural Forum, NY | |
| Selseleh/Zelzeleh: Movers and Shakes in Contemporary Iranian Art, (curated by Dr. Layla Diba) Leila Heller Gallery, NY | |
| 2008 | Weaving the Common Thread, Queens Museum of Art, Queens, NY |
| How Soon Is Now?: AIM 28, The Bronx Museum of Arts, Bronx, NY | |
| Firewalkers, Stefan Stux Gallery, NY | |
| East West Dialogues (curated by Dr. Layla Diba), Leila Heller Gallery, NY | |
| 2007 | Pink Polemic, Kravets Wehby Gallery, NY |
| 2006 | Iconoclasmic (curated by Eddie Torres), Longwood Art Gallery, Bronx, NY |
| Wrest-stops Along the Intrastate (curated by Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt), Visual Arts Gallery, NY | |
| Do You Think I'm Disco, Longwood Art Gallery, Bronx, NY | |
| Prime Time (curated by Amy Smith-Stewart), Visual Arts Gallery, NY | |
| A Delicate Arrangement (curated by Dan Cameron), David Zwirner Gallery, NY | |
| 2005 | Politics As Usual, Foreman Gallery, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY |
| The Matzo Files, Streit's Matzo Factory, NY, NY | |
| 2004 | A Conversation (curated by Michael St. John), Marvelli Gallery, NY |
| Simply Drawn, Luxe Gallery, NY | |
| 2000 | Le Visage Cachee de la Femme Afghane, UNESCO, Paris, FR |
| 1999 | Panj (curated by Nicky Nodjoumi), Center for Iranian Modern Arts, NY |
Education
| 2006 | M.F.A. Fine Arts, School of Visual Arts, NY |
| 2004 | Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME |
| 1997 | JD, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC |
| 1992 | B.A., Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, magna cum laude, Columbia University, NY |
Residencies and Awards
| 2019 | Finalist, The Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize, Baltimore, MD |
| 2018 | Nomination, Anonymous Was A Woman |
| 2016 | Longterm Artist-in-Residence, Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, Arlington, VA (through June 2023) |
| 2015 | Short-term Residency, Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington (formerly Arlington Arts Center), Arlington, VA |
| 2013 | Swing Space Residency on Governors Island, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, NY |
| 2007-08 | AIM 28, Artists In The Marketplace, Bronx Museum of Art, Bronx, NY |
| 2006-07 | Workspace Residency, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, NY |
| 2006 | Ushio Shinohara Juror Award, ISE Cultural Foundation, NY |
| 2004 | Partial Fellowship, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME |
| 2003 | Jentel Artists Residency Program, Banner, WY |
Selected Bibliography and Press
Mark Jenkins, “In the galleries: Negar Ahkami,” The Washington Post, December 7, 2018
Chad Alligood, Linda DeBerry, Lauren Haynes (Eds.), “The Beyond: Georgia O'Keeffe and Contemporary Art.” Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 2018
Grigor, Talinn, “Contemporary Iranian Visual Artists: Street, Studio, and Exile.” London: Reaktion Books, 2014
Pogrebin, Robin, “Contemporary Art In The Middle East – Rising Stars,” Solo Mosaico, September 15, 2013
Honarpisheh, Donna, “Artist Spotlight: Negar Ahkami and the Whirlwind of Consumption,” (2-Part Interview), Aslan Media, September 24, 2013 and September 26, 2013
Bilsborough, Michael, “From A Distance,” SVA Continuing Education Blog, June 21, 2013
BBC Persian Arts: Interview With Negar Ahkami, July 1, 2013
VOA, Interview With Negar Ahkami, July, 2013
Brodsky, Judith K. and Ferris Olin, “The Fertile Crescent: Gender, Art and Society.” Rutgers University Insitute for Women and Art, 2012
Kusnecov, Saskia, “Negar Ahkami Explores Human Neuroticism Through Her Art,” Inside Beat (The Daily Targum), Oct. 11, 2012
Dube, Ilene, “The Fertile Crescent: Model of Collaboration,” The Princeton Magazine, Oct. 8, 2012
Butera, Virginia Fabbri, “Politics, Society and Sexuality in Middle Eastern Feminist Art, “Ragzines.cc, Nov-Dec. 2012
Gold, Sylviane, “A Female, but Not Mainly Feminine, Eye,” The New York Times, Jan. 7 2011
Buckberrough, Sherry and Nancy Noble, WOMENARTISTS@NEWBRITAINMUSEUM Catalogue, New Britain Museum of American Art, January 2011
Esman, Abigail R., “The Art of War: Why Today’s Iranian Art Is One of Your Best Investments Now,” Forbes.com, Jan. 10 2011
Baron, Jeff, “’A Bold Hand’ Making a Mark in the Art World,” America.gov, May 21 2010
Smith, Roberta, “Painting in the 21st Century: It’s Not Dry Yet,” (Image) The New York Times, March 28 2010
Flandrin, Antoine, “Le Voile Devoilé,” Le Courrier de l’Atlas, March 2010
“Iran Inside Out: Influences of Homeland and Diaspora on the Artistic Language of Contemporary Iranian Artists,” Catalogue, Chelsea Museum of Art, June 2009
Sontag, Deborah, “The Intersection of Islam, America and Identity,” The New York Times, June 7 2009
“Close Reading: Negar Ahkami,” Interactive Feature, nytimes.com, June 4 2009
Wei, Lily, “Selseleh/Selzeleh at Leila Taghinia-Milani Heller Gallery,” ArtNews, Oct. 2009
Cotter, Holland, “Iran Inside Out,” The New York Times, July 28 2009 Kino, Carol, “Iranians Shine, Assisted by Expatriate,” The New York Times, Aug. 15 2009
Ebstein, Alex, “Her Stories: Group Show Presents and Examines Women’s Voice and Identity,” Baltimore City Paper, Feb. 18 2009
Davis, Ben, “Iranian Art Now,” artnet.com, July 20 2009
Jigsawnovich, Julie, “Iran Inside Out at Chelsea Art Museum,” persianesque.com, July 26 2009
Smith, Kyle Thomas, “July 2009, The Seen and the Hidden - Discovering the Veil,” whitehotmagazine.com, July 2009
Walker, Carole, “Artists Use Images of the Veil to Explore Identity, Culture,” payvand.com, Aug. 27 2009
Neuschler, Chris, “Iran Inside Out inside Chelsea Art Museum, New York,” premierartscene.com, June 2009
Bigi, Emanuele, “L’arte contemporanea iraniana a New York, quando la cultura supera la politica,” ilsole24ore.com, Aug. 11 2009
Seguin, Andrew, “In Calligraphy and Cobalt, a Painter Explores Persian Identity,” chapin.edu, Sept. 16 2009
Passariello, Micol, “News: Arte Da Mille E Una Notte,” Cosmopolitan (Italia), Sept. 2009
Riley-Lopez, Erin, “How Soon Is Now?,” How Soon Is Now?: AIM 28 Catalogue, 2008
Smith, Roberta, “Artists Leap Into the Moment,” The New York Times, July 25 2008
Torres, Eddie, “Iconoclasmic: Answering to a Higher Calling,” South Bronx Contemporary: A Catalogue of Essays, 2007
Genocchio, Benjamin, “Exploring the Effects if Disco’s Beat,” The New York Times, Feb. 19 2006
Cotter, Holland, “Do You Think I’m Disco,” The New York Times, Feb. 3 2006
Richardson, Denise, “Exhibit Mixes Politics and Art,” The Daily Star, Sept. 15 2005
Turel, Noa, “Consumption & Being” and “The Disinformation Consumer: Recent Paintings,” fortnight-kitchen.com, 2004
Visiting Artist Lectures and Panels
| 2019 | Lecture, "“Negar Ahkami, An Artist’s Source Material: Persian Art & Its Relevance,” New Britain Museum of Art, CT |
| Panel, “Distance and (missed) Connections: Readings and a Discussion with Negar Ahkami and Cyriaco Lopes,” Dorsky Gallery, LIC, NY | |
| 2018 | Panelist, "Spotlight Talk: Panel Discussion with Matthew Ronay and Negar Ahkami," Crystal Bridges Museum, Bentonville, AR |
| Lecture, "ArtBuz >> How It's Made: Negar Ahkami," Crystal Bridges Museum, Bentonville, AR | |
| Gallery Talk, "Gallery Conversation: The Beyond Artist Negar Ahkami," Crystal Bridges Museum, Bentonville, AR | |
| Panelist, "Columbia College Women, Women in the Arts Panel: Amplifying the Female Voice Through Art," The Kitchen, New York, NY | |
| Gallery Talk, "International Education Week, Artist Talk at Cody Gallery: Negar Ahkami, The Taking," Marymount University, Arlington, VA | |
| 2016 | Panelist, “Lawn Chair Talks: One Artist, One Urban Farmer," organized by Arlington Cultural Affairs, Arlington Arts Center, Arlington, VA |
| Panelist, Sheherzade's Gift: Subversive Narratives, The Center For Book Arts, NY, NY | |
| Visiting Artist Lecture, Drew University, Madison, NJ | |
| 2012 | Panelist, “The Fertile Crescent: Gender, Art, and Society in the Middle East Diaspora,” moderated by Alison Bernstein, Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers University |
| Panelist, “The Fertile Crescent: A New York Public Library Book Event,” New York, NY | |
| Panelist, “Transnationalism and Women Artists in Diaspora,” moderated by Judith K. Brodsky and Julie Lohnes, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, New York, NY | |
| 2011 | Panelist, “DisLocating Culture: Contemporary Islamic Art in America,” Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Visiting Artist Lecture, Bloomfield College, Bloomfield, NJ | |
| 2009 | Panelist, “Iran Inside Out: Influences on Homeland and Diaspora on the Artistic Language of Contemporary Iranian Artists,” Depaul University, Chicago, Illinois |
| Panelist, “The Seen and the Hidden: (Dis)covering the Veil,” Austrian Cultural Forum, NY | |
| Visiting Artist Lecture, Chapin School, New York, NY | |
| 2008 | Panelist, Artist Talk On Art, “Middle Eastern Voices of Change: Artists as Activists,” moderated by Ayse Turgut, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY |
| Panelist, moderated by Prof. Shiva Balaghi, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY | |
| 2004 | Panelist, “Culture & Power: an Artists Roundtable,” moderated by Prof. Shiva Balaghi, Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies, New York University, New York, NY |
| 2003 | Panelist, “Popular Culture in the Middle East,“ moderated by Prof. Shiva Balaghi, Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies, New York University, New York, NY |