Shirin Neshat (Persian: شیرین نشأت ; born March 26, 1957) is an Iranian visual artist who lives in New York City. She is known primarily for her work in film, video and photography. Read full biography of Shirin Neshat →
I'm an artist, I'm not an activist.
I believe we don't need to widen the divide between the West and Islam. Rather, we need to build dialogue to encourage tolerance and respect.
I'm really interested in social justice, and if an artist has a certain power of being heard and voicing something important, it's right to... →
I believe and support the feminist movement, but I am not generally interested in considering women's rights in relation to equality with men, or... →
Magical realism allows an artist like myself to inject layers of meaning without being obvious. In American culture, where there is freedom of... →
Every Iranian artist dreams of the black market. We don't care about making money.
There is nothing negative about a group of people crying out for democracy - and if my voice counts, I will be vocal.
Being political is an integral part of being Iranian. Our lives are defined by politics.
The first years of my life in the U.S. were very difficult.
My father was a doctor, but he was what I would call an intellectual - very well-read and very interested in knowledge. He insisted that I get as... →
I think of myself, an Iranian/American artist, and wonder what would I want if I'm ever imprisoned by the Iranian government for the work that I... →
Shirin Neshat (Persian: شیرین نشأت ; born March 26, 1957) is an Iranian visual artist who lives in New York City. She is known primarily for her work in film, video and photography.