Atefeh Khas (Iran)

Born in Tehran 1985

 

Education

2025    M.A in Cinema and Video Digital, Brera Fine Arts Academy, Milan, Italy

2014    M.A. in Art Research, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

2010    B.A. in Painting, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

2004    Diploma in Graphics, Masoumyeh Vocational School, Tehran, Iran

 

Honors and Rewards

2024    The Premio Luigi Candiani Award, Second Prize, Spazio Arte Contemporanea, Milan, Italy

2023    Curatorial Intensive South Asia, Fully Funded Fellowship Program, Khoj International Artists Association and Goethe-Institute, Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi, India

2023    RAKFAF, Winners of the 2023 Visitor Award powered by Scan.art

2023    The 1st Prize Digital Arts, 11th Annual Ras Al Kheimah Fine Arts Festival, Curated by Alfio Tommasini, Al Qasemi Foundation, UAE

2016    Second Prize, 9th Student Publications Festival, Tehran, Iran

2015    Second prize, Student Publications in the Universities Festival, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran

2014    Selected Student for Research Activity, The 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Internal Movement Festival, Alzahra University,

Tehran

 

Past Group Exhibitions

2025    RÉBELLION, Voices That Endure, Curated by Gelareh Goudarzi, Negin Firoozi, Mehdi Sanati, Bordeaux, France

2025    Regard Sur L’Iran, Curated by Nazak Savittet & David Nitlich, ÉVIDENCES Photographers' Company, Paris, France

2024    Third Project, Projektraum, Kreuzberg/Bethanien, Berlin, Germany

2024    Tik Tok Tik Tok, Yafteh Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2023    Embodying Resistance, A collective body in protest, Curated by Ewa Meister & Johanna Ralser, a&o Kunsthalle contemporary museum, Leipzig, Germany

2023    I am right here, Photo and Video Art by Female Artists from Iran, Curated by Elke Prieß, Villa Ichon, Berlin, Germany

2022    Between Lands, Curated by Minoosh Zomorodinia, Southern Exposure Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2021    Recovery, Curated by Mahoor Toosi, Aran Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2019    Occurrent, Curated by: Zahra Ghyasi, Bavan Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2019    Hofreh, peephole Cinema, Curated by Minoosh Zomorrodinia, San Francisco, CA

2018    Women Eco Artists Dialog, Bioneers Conference, San Rafael, CA

2018    Wind, Geumgang Nature Art Biennale, Kongju National University, Gongju, South Korea

2018    Juncture, Curated by Nasim Pirhadi, Red Dot Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka

2018    Habitat, Curated by Setareh Hosseini, Vista Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2018    Trends and Approaches in Contemporary Art 2nd edition, Mellat Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2018    PORTIZMIR4, the 4th International Izmir Contemporary Art Triennial, Izmir, Turkey

2018    Ader, Video Art Exhibition, Curated by Fereshteh Alamshah, Jaleh Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2017    An Exploration of New Art with Environmental Art Approach, Curated by Farzaneh Najafi, Honar Gallery, Amol, Iran

2017    RECLAIMING EARTH, works by Women Eco Artists Dialog,Jewett Gallery,San Francisco Library, CA

2017    Pair, curated by Neda Darzi, Knack Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2016    Water, The 7th Geumgang Nature Art Biennale, Video Exhibition, YATOO International Art Center, Gongju-si, South Korea

2016    Eco-avantgarde, Kunsthalle Institution of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, Budapest, Hungary

2016    Sew + Zan, Curated by Saghar Daeri, Tarahan Azad Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2016    Rite of Passage, Co-Curated by Minoosh Zomorrodinia & Arash Shirinbab, ICCNC Gallery, Oakland, CA

2015    The Exhibition between Heaven & Earth, Geumgang Nature Art Pre-Biennale, YATOO International Art Center, Gongju-si, South Korea

2015    Living Spaces, Curated by Peter Alpar & Mahmoud Maktabi, Transylvanian Art Center, Transylvania, Romania

2015    Focus Iran: Contemporary Photography and Video, Craft and Folk Art Museum, Farhang Foundation, Los Angeles, CA

2014    2nd Earth & Time, The World of Environmental Art in Iran, Iranian Artists’ Forum, Tehran, Iran

2014    Review of Decade of Video Art in Iran, Iranian Artist’s Forum, Tehran, Iran

2013    644, Hiroshima Memorial Exhibition, Qasr Museum, Tehran, Iran

2013    Unexposed, 40 Young Women Artists from Iran, Curated by Feri Malek-Madani, Elaheh Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2013    Sheila Gallery’s Third Anniversary, Tehran, Iran

2013    Reminiscence of the Land, Gongju-si, South Korea

2013    Earth & Time, The World of Environmental Art in Iran, Iran Artists’ Forum, Tehran, Iran

2012    Earth-Body-Mind, Kathmandu International Art Festival, Kathmandu, Nepal

2012    Unexposed, 40 Young Women Artists from Iran, Curated by Feri Malek-Madani,

Athens, Greece, Cacoyannis Foundation, Warsaw, Poland, Ethnography Museum, Brussels, Belgium

2012    Nature is Breathing, YATOO International Project Nature Art Exhibition, Transylvania, Romania

2012    Beyond Limited Spaces, YATOO International Art Center, Gongju-si, South Korea

2012    India-Iran Cultural Week, Iranian Artists’ Forum, Tehran, Iran

2012    Wind of Persia, Arko Center, Seoul, South Korea

2011    Iran Environmental Artists’ Selected Works, Museum of Contemporary Art, Isfahan, Iran

2011    GOOD WORK, A Celebration of The Makers and Making of Textiles, Curated by Tali Weinberg, Textile Art Center and Oak Knit Studio, Brooklyn, NY

2009    Painting Group Exhibition, Shahed art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2008    Montakhabe Nasle No, Homa Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2008    New Languages, New Art, Laleh Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2006    The 1st Tehran Women Painting, Niavaran Cultural House, Tehran, Iran

 

Festivals, Art Projects and Symposium

2023    The 11th Annual Ras Al Kheimah Fine Arts Festival, Curated by Alfio Tommasini, Al Qasemi Foundation, Ras Al Kheimah, UAE

2018    The 4th International Art Symposium, Curated by Ashis Pahi, Hingangaon, Pune, India

2018    The 8th Annual of Contemporary Art, Persbook, Yazd, Iran

2017    In the Trace of Nature, Global Nomadic Art Project (GNAP), Organized by Portizmir 4, The 4th International Izmir Contemporary Art Triennial, Izmir, Turkey

2017    Art Galleries, Global Nomadic Art Project (GNAP), Cranberry Association, Doué-en-Anjou & Saumurois, France

2017    Urban Nature Art, Global Nomadic Art Project (GNAP), Organized by Waldkunstzentrum, Darmstadt, Germany

2017    Limited Access 7, Moving Images, Sound & Performance, Tehran, Iran

2016    Nomadic Art, Global Nomadic Art Project (GNAP), Gheshm Island, Isfahan & Tehran, Iran

2016    In Situ, The Second Annual Al Maken Contemporary Art Festival, Gafsa, Tunisia

2015    51st of Environmental Art Festival, Paradise International Art Center, Salakh Costal Village, Gheshm Island, Iran

2015    You expected me virgin. I expected you not to be a dumbass, The 28th Festival Les Instants Video, Marseille, France

2015    The 4th Environmental Art National Festival and Little Sculpture, Shiraz, Iran

2013    The 44th Environmental Art Festival, Sangsar, Iran

2013    Sustainable Tourism, Abr Forest, Semnan, Iran

2013    Tehran’s Environmental Art Festival, Laleh Park, Tehran, Iran

2012    The 25th Instants Video Festival, Marseille, France

2012    Tirgan Recycling Art Festival, Abr Forest, Semnan, Iran

2012    Environmental Art Festival, Kerman, Iran

2011    The Gate of Masouleh, Rok-Iran Artist Exchange Residency Project, Masouleh, Iran

2011    The 31st   environmental Art Festival, Hormuz Island, Iran

2010    Shoshtar Art Festival, University of Shoshtar, Iran

2010    The 25th Environmental Art Festival, Hormuz Island, Iran

2009    The 24th Environmental Art Festival, Urmia Lake, Iran

2009    The 23rd Environmental Art Festival, Pardis Art Center, Polour, Iran

2009    The 20th Environmental Art Festival, Hormuz Island, Iran

2008    The 19th Environmental Art Festival, Bagh Bahadoran, Isfahan, Iran

2008    The 17th Environmental Art Festival, Pardis Art Center, Polour, Iran

2008    The 16th Environmental Art Festival, Marlik University, Nowshahr, Iran

2007    Fine Art Festival, Khoram Abad, Iran

2007    The 15th Environmental Arts Festival, Hormuz Island, Iran

2007    The 14th Environmental Art Festival, Pardis Art Center, Polour, Iran

2006    The 13th Environmental Art Festival, Hormuz Island, Iran

2006    The 12th New Art Festival, Pardis Art center, Polour, Iran

 

Art Residency

2025    The Val de l'Indre/Brenne, Masterclasses, Workshops and Sound Recordings Sessions, Focus on Soundscapes and Field Recording, Association Cranberry, Buzançais, France

2024    The Premio Luigi Candiani Award for Art Residency, SAC,Spazio Arte Contemporanea,Milan, Italy

2024    AAA Atelier Aperti per Artista, Casa degli Artisti, Milan, Italy

2019    Iran / France Exchange Program, La Friche la Belle de Mai & Kooshk Residency, Marseille, France

2012    Residency of Nature Art, Wongol International Residency Center for YATOO International Art center, Gongju-si, South Korea

 

Curator and Art Director

2024    Art Director, Pain and Hue, Collaborative Performance with Annalì Rainoldi, Shahrzad Lotfi, Pirooz Arjmand, Francesca Longo, Mizar Giusti, Casa degli Artisti, Milan, Italy

2023    Curator, Halal halāhala; the Rules of Being Full, Kamaladevi Complex, India International Center, New Delhi, India

2020    Co-curator, Emotional Numbness: The impact of war on the human psyche and ecosystems, Platform3 Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2020    Co-Curator, Emotional Numbness: The impact of war on the human psyche and ecosystems, Online Exhibition by Women Eco Artists Dialog

2020    Curator, Necessary Food, Platform 3, Tehran, Iran

2018    Curator, Folding, Folding Exhibition, Rooberoo Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2017    Curator, Tasty Art, Rooberoo Mansion, Tehran, Iran

2016    Curator, How Many Steps to Reach You, Rooberoo Mansion, Tehran, Iran

2016    Curator, Water Works Program, Virtual exhibition

2014    Art Director, Environmental Art Festival Abr Forest, Semnan, Iran

2013    Co-Curator, Video Persia Art Exhibition, in Collaboration with Korean Nature Artist’s Association YATOO, Gongju-si, South Korea

 

Published Art Works

2021    Works featured in the Portrait section of Nahib Interdisciplinary Quarterly, Issue No. 7

2020    Retexture; Traces of Tradition and Contemporary Concerns in Collaboration, Konesh

Platform, written by Reyhane Mirjahani, Issue No. 02, p. 27

2018    Nature Art and Natural Stone, Written by Tugce Ayturk, Article about Global Nomadic Art Project, Tr Stone Magazine

2017    Works featured in the YATOO-i Environmental Art Calendar 2017, Gongju-si, South Korea

2016    Works featured on the poster of the SOAS Centenary Conference: Environmental Challenges in the MENA Region, London Middle East Institute, courtesy of Janet Rady Fine Art

2015    Metamorphosis Project, featured in the e-book: Water Views: Caring and Daring, Waterwheel Project

2015    Works featured on the cover of The Middle East in London, SOAS University, Volume 11, No, 2

2015    Works featured in the YATOO-i Environmental Art Calendar 2015, Gongju-si, South Korea

2013    Works featured in the Dastan Magazine, Third Year, No. 28

2012    Works featured in the catalogue of Wind of Persia, Arko Center, Seoul, South Korea

2012    Works featured in the catalogue of Geumgang Nature Art Biennale, Yatoo International Art Center, Gongju-si, South Korea

 

Presentation, Lecture, Panel and Artist Talk

2019    Recycling Art and Ecosystem, Second International Conference on Visual Arts and The Environment with an Approach to the Recycled art, Saba Cultural and Artistic Institute, Tehran, Iran

2018    From the Roots of Environmental Art to Its Confluence with Fiber Art, The 8th Annual of Contemporary Art, Persbook, Yazd, Iran

2018    From the Roots of Environmental Art to Its Confluence with Fiber Art, First International Conference on the Theoretical Basis of Visual Arts with Environmental Approach, Al-Zahra University, Tehran, Iran

2017    Artist Talk, Global Nomadic Art Project (GNAP), Organized by Portizmir 4, The 4th International Izmir Contemporary Art Triennial, Izmir, Turkey

2017    Artist Talk, Global Nomadic Art Project (GNAP), Cranberry Association, Doué-en-Anjou & Saumurois, France

2017    Artist Talk, Global Nomadic Art Project (GNAP), Organized by Waldkunstzentrum, Darmstadt, Germany

2017    Artist Talk, Body and Expression in Performance Art, Rooberoo Mansion, Tehran Iran

2016    Artist Talk, Global Nomadic Art Project (GNAP), Gheshm Island & Isfahan, Iran

2014    Environmental Art in Iran, Presentation in Saba Cultural and Artistic Institute, Tehran, Iran

 

Workshop

2017    Fiber Art, Knack Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2015    NAP Workshop, Iranian, Hungarian and Romanian Artists in Daniel Castel, Transylvania, Romania

2014    Environmental Art; Nature; Architecture Workshop, School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Art University, Tehran, Iran

2014    Environmental Art, Lecture & Workshop, Tehran university Faculty of Art, Tehran, Iran

 

Writings and Essays

2021    The Reasons of Environmental Art Development in Iran's 1380s (2001-2011), Honaragah Magazine, Online

2021    From the Roots of Environmental Art to its Intersection with Fiber Art, Honaragah Magazine, Online

2018    Selection of Bibliographies and Articles Related to Passion Play, Passion Play Exhibition, October, Salam Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2016    The reasons of Environmental Art Development in Iran's 1380s (2001-2011), Contemporary Art Magazine Honaragah, Vol. 9

2015    The story of Flower of Ejvan based on Campbell and Jung's Analysis, Honar Pajoh Quarterly, Journal Art and Science, Y. 3, Vol. 6

2015    The Economic Art Market with Trends to Sell New Artworks in Tehran's Galleries, Art Research Quarterly, Journal of Science Education and Research, Y. 3, Vol. 9

2014    Stitched on body of nature, Report about Environmental Art Performance, Zanan-e Emruz magazine- Y.1, Vol. 3

2013    Religious Attitude in Conceptual Art, Honar Pajoh Quarterly, Journal Art and Science. Y. 1, Vol.1

2013    Environmental Art Festival in Tehran. Tandis Visual Art Magazine, Vol. 245

 

Performance

2016    Steps, GNAP, Global Nomadic Art Project, Gheshm Island & Isfahan, Iran

2015    Henna Party, The 51st of Environmental Art Festival, Salakh, Iran

2015    A Snack Named Desire, Transylvanian Art Center, Sfântu Gheorghe, Transylvania, Romania

2015    A Snack Named Desire, Niavaran Art Center, Tehran, Iran

2014    Metamorphosis, Caring and Daring, Waterwheel Word Water Day Symposium, Online

2012    My belief is not yellow, Sheila Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2011    Falling, The Gate of Masouleh, Rok-Iran Artist Exchange Residency Project, Masouleh, Iran

2009    Salted Hair, The 24th environmental Art Festival, Urmia Lake, Iran

2008    Recycling Performance, New Languages New Art Exhibition, Laleh Gallery, Tehran Iran

 

Art Expo

2017    In Situ, Al Maken Contemporary Art Festival, Gafsa, Tunisia

 

Screening

2017    Children of Hormoz, The 14th Image of the Year, Iranian Artists' Forum, Tehran, Iran

 

Interview

2015    Feminine Approach to Environmental Art, Iran Banoo Magazine, Vol 24

 

Collaborative Projects

2018     National Iranian Radio, A review of Pieces, Documents, Object, and Images from Radio Iran (1940-1980), Project Collaborator, Salam Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2014    Works featured in the YATOO-i Environmental Art Calendar 2014, Collaboration with Open 5 Group, Gongju-si, Soth Korea

2014     2nd Earth and Time, Iranian Artists Forum, Collaboration with Open 5 Group, Tehran, Iran

2014    Root, Fifth Annual Contemporary Art/Persbook, Collaboration with Open 5 Group, Elaheh Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2013    Earth and Time, Iranian Artists Forum, Collaboration with Open 5 Group, Tehran, Iran

2012    Nature is Breathing, YATOO International Project Nature Art, Collaboration with Open 5 Group and Low Art Group, Transylvania, Romania

2012     Without Border, Persbook, Iranian Artists' Forum, Collaboration with Open 5 Group, Tehran,

Iran

2012    Finalist in Eco Art Awards, Collaboration with Open 5 Groups, Online contest, USA

2011    Works featured in the International Environmental Art 2012 Wall Calendar, Collaboration with Low Art Group, Amber Lutos Publication, USA

2011    The Sky Is Mine, The 6th National Sculpture Biennial of Tehran, Collaboration with Open5 Group, Niavaran Cultural and Historical Complex, Tehran, Iran

2011    Persbook, Collaboration with Low Art Group, 2nd Iranian Contemporary Art Online Contest

2011    Iranian Environmental Artists' Selected Works, Museum of Contemporary Art, Collaboration

with Open 5 Group, Isfahan, Iran

2011    Tirgan Art Festival, Collaboration with Low Art Group, Toronto, Canada

2011    Videoholica Art Festival, collaboration with Open 5 Group, Bulgaria

2011    Autama2011 Video Art Festival, Collaboration with Open 5 Group, France

2011    Tassvir, Image of the Year Festival, Collaboration with Open 5 Group, Tehran, Iran

2011    The 1st Recycle art festival, Collaboration with Low Art group, Qazvin, Iran

2010    Spaceless, Persbook, Collaboration with Open 5 Group, Sin Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2010    Fresh Dig Big Daddy Community Garden, Collaboration with Open 5 Group & Alida Line, Emeryville, CA

2010    (Re)Fashioning Fiber: New Horizons in Environmental Art and Fashion, Curated by Abigail Doan, Collaboration with Low Art Group, Greenspaces, New York, NY

2009    Fajr Afarinan New Art Festival, Saba Cultural and Artistic Institute, Collaboration with Open 5 Group, Tehran, Iran

2007    Flight & Persistence, Collaboration with Open 5 Group, Saba Cultural and Artistic Institute, Tehran, Iran

2007    Snowy Town Festival, First Group Prize, Collaboration with Open 5 Group, Charmahal & Bakhtiyari, Iran

2006    New Art Festival, Collaboration with Low Art Group, Semnan Art University, Semnan Iran

2006    Line/Dot, Collaboration with Low Art Group, Faculty of Art, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

2006    The Manifestation of Ashura in the Mirror of Imagination, Saba Cultural and Artistic Institute, Collaboration with Open 5 Group, Tehran, Iran

 

Job Experience

2023        Invited teacher, Islamic Azad University, Fereshtegan International Branch, Tehran, Iran

2022        Invited teacher, Shariati Technical and Vocational College, Tehran, Iran

2022        Invited teacher, Pars University, Tehran, Iran

2021        Invited teacher, Shiraz Art University, Shiraz, Iran

2021,20   Art director, 3 Platform,Tehran, Iran

2018,16   Art Director, Visual Art Department, Rooberoo Mansion, Tehran, Iran

2016,15   Assistant, Nadalian Museum, Hormuz Island, Iran

2015,13   Staff Writer, Honar Pajoh Journal of Art, Al-Zahra University, Tehran, Iran

2009        Translator, Network of Iran Art News Agency, Online

 

 

 

 

 

Biography

Atefeh Khas is a multidisciplinary artist and curator from Tehran, Iran. She employs video, photography, sculpture, and performance in her site-specific installations to address environmental and social issues. She received her MA in Art Research from Alzahra University, 2014, and BFA in Painting from Shahed University in Tehran, in 2010.

She has received several residencies and awards such as the Environmental Art Residency Program in South Korea in 2012, Global Nomadic Art Project in Iran, Germany, France and Turkey in 2016 and 2017, Almaken 2nd International Contemporary Art Festival in Tunisia in 2016, Kooshk Residency and La Friche la Belle de Mai in 2019.

She was the art director and curator in different festivals and exhibitions such as “Environmental Art Festival in Abr Forest” in 2014, “video Persia” exhibition in South Korea in 2013, “WaterWheel” online exhibition in 2016 and “Emotional Numbness: The impact of war on the human psyche and ecosystems” _ Organizers: WEAD, in collaborative with Minoosh Zomorrodinia.

She has been participated in more than thirty Environmental Art Festivals in Iran and she has exhibited her works internationally such as: “Focus Iran: Contemporary Photography and Video at the Craft and Folk Art Museum in Los Angeles”, “Kathmandu International Art Festival in Nepal” and more in: Canada, United State, Belgium, Romania, South Korea, France, Germany, Greece, Bulgaria, Hungry, Tunisia, Poland, Sri-Lanka, Turkey, Nepal, India and Netherlands.

Her artwork and articles have been featured in publications that include Contemporary Art Magazine Honaragah, “The Middle East in London” Magazine, poster of (SOAS) Centenary Conference University of London, “Yatoo-i Environmental Art Calendar” in 2015,

She had two workshops about environmental art in 2014 at: Tehran University, Faculty of Art and the 5th Annual Contemporary Art Persbook with Open 5 Group.

She was the art director of Visual Art Department in Rooberoo Mansion in Tehran from December 2016 to March 2018 and also, art director of 3 Platform in Tehran from January 2020 to January 2021.

 

 

Statement

Over the years, I have created many of my works in nature. Although I have always lived in the city, but; The beginning of my work was in the nature. For me, who lives in the Middle East, familiarity with concepts such as religion, politics, history and war seems obvious; At the beginning of my career, I wanted to escape to nature to get rid of all these confusions. Over time, the relationship between human and nature became more attractive to me and I found the meaning of many problems in my life in this relationship.

For me, traveling and migration, environmental problems, searching for the meaning of life in contrast to death, are three key concepts in my works.

Performance, installation, site-specific performance, film and photo are ways to express these ideas.