A solo exhibition by Roswell Artist-in-Residence Farnaz Shadravan (RAiR 2025-26) at the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art

Babylon 26
January 9 - February 22, 2026

Artist Talk and Opening Reception
Friday January 9, 5:30-7:00 P.M.
Stay for the public dinner, Friday January 9, approximately 7:00 P. M. | $10 Adult | $5 Child

Farnaz Shadravan was born and raised in Iran. Her introduction to Art was her training in manuscript illumination and Persian miniature painting. After 1979 revolution in her country she moved to United States. Farnaz has had two completely different styles of Art education in America, one traditional realistic oil painting at University of Utah and the other, freestyle conceptual art practice that included different mediums and disciplines at San Francisco Art Institute. As a result of this, her work oscillates between these two realms and has distinct elements from each practice. Being a part time dentist Farnaz often uses her dental hand piece to carve or engrave found objects. The meditative quality of the act of engraving is clearly transferred to her work. Having experienced a revolution and a war in her country, her work has become her way of telling her life stories and also the stories of people she met along the way. In 2002 Farnaz and two of her friends established the first artist run exhibition space in San Francisco - San Francisco Underground Gallery. In 2011 she opened her second artist run exhibition space - Shadravan Studios - in Oakland’s Art Murmur district. Farnaz has art studios in Oakland and in Tehran. She is in the process of establishing a studio in Los Angeles.

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My father was an artist and encouraged me to become one, my mother wanted me to choose a more secure profession. That is the reason I ended up in dental school after finishing art school. After years of juggling these two professions, I finally left the financial security of dentistry for Art.

This shift in my life forced me to leave my 2000 square-foot studio for a much smaller one. Next I took trip to Iran to set up a second studio there. First night in Tehran; there I was in an old house in a country that was now foreign to me. All I had was closets filled with old clothes. For tool; a pair of scissors, embroidery flosses and and a sewing needle.

"I will turn all these clothes in to works of art," I thought.

First, the wedding dress that I had sewn myself, I covered it with French knots "Tying the Knot”

"Gate of Eden" my sister's favorite dress. The name came from the book she wrote before she passed away from cancer.

"Until we meet again" a composite of my childhood dress and that of my sister's.

"Indivisible" Random fabrics from different clothes.

A new chapter in my art practice began. Like a human being, a work of art needs to have three elements: Skeleton, skin and pulse. I used wood for the skeleton. Fabric became the skin. Juxtaposing different stitches and colors gave me the pulse. Used materials hold energy of their past experiences, unleashing that energy causes pain but that's a small price to pay when you see the effect. In the past I would get compliments, now the viewers thank me wholeheartedly as if they have received something valuable.

Click to see more about Farnaz

Museum hours Monday-Friday 9-4, Saturday and Sunday 1-5.

Farnaz Shadravan (RAiR 2025-26) Solo Exhibition at AMoCA