Hangama Amiri holds an MFA from Yale University where she graduated in 2020 from the Painting and Printmaking Department. She received her BFA from NSCAD University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is a Canadian Fulbright and Post-Graduate Fellow at Yale University School of Art and Sciences (2015-2016). Her recent exhibitions include Quiet Resistance (2023) at Moenchehaus Museum Goslar, Germany; Rumi (2023) at Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, ON; A Homage to Home (2023) at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield, CT; Sharjah Biennial 15: Thinking Historically in the Present (2023), Sharjah, UAE; Reminiscences (2022) at Union Pacific in London; Henna Night/ Shabe Kheena (2022) at David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, CO; Mirrors and Faces (2021) at Cooper Cole Gallery, Toronto; Wandering Amidst the Colors (2021) at Albertz Benda, New York, NY; Spectators of a New Dawn (2021), Towards Gallery, Toronto; and Bazaar: A Recollection of Home (2020) at T293 Gallery, Rome, Italy. Amiri works predominantly in textiles to examine notions of home, as well as how gender, social norms, and larger geopolitical conflict impact the daily lives of women, both in Afghanistan and in the diaspora. Continuing to use textiles as the medium, Amiri searches to define, explore, and question these spaces. The figurative tendency in her work is due to her interest in the power of representation, especially of those objects that are ordinary to our everyday life, such as a passport, a vase, or celebrity postcards.
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Curriculum Vitae

Education

2020 M.F.A Yale School of Art, New Haven, CT

2012 B.F.A Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University, Halifax, NS

Research Experience

2015 Post-Graduate Fellow(PGF), Yale University School of Art & Sciences, New Haven, CT

Solo Exhibitions

2024 Circle of Friends, Cooper Cole, Toronto, ON

2024 Reminiscences II, T293 Gallery, Rome, Italy

2023 Quiet Resistance, Moenchehaus Museum, Goslar, Germany

2023 Rumi: Distance Between Homes, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, ON

2023 A Homage to Home, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield, CT

2022 Reminiscences, Union Pacific, London, UK

2022 Shabe Kheena/Henna Night, David B Smith Gallery, Denver, CO

2021 Mirrors and Faces, Cooper Cole, Toronto, ON

2021 Wandering Amidst the Colors, Alberts Benda, NY, NY

2021 Spectators of a New Dawn, Towards Gallery, Toronto, ON

2020 Bazaar, A Recollection of Home, T293 Gallery, Rome, Italy

Group Exhibitions

2024 The Allegory of Public Happiness, Mart Musuem, Trento, Italy

2024 Not Too Late, Charles Moffett Gallery, New York, NY

2024 Of Intimacy and Quietude, Sidmotion Gallery, London, UK

2024 Can the Afghan Speak, Kunsthall 3,14, Bergen, Norway

2023 Let the Bād Speak, Fondazione 107, Torino, Italy

2023 Botany of Desire, Swivel Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2023 Memory is the Seamstress, Green Art Gallery, Dubai, UAE

2023 STAGES, Plug In ICA, Winnipeg, MB

2023 Silent Hands, Hayy Jameel, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

2023 Piecework, Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, ON

2023 Sharjah Biennial 15th: Thinking Historically in the Present, Sharjah, UAE

2023 Narrative Threads: Fiber Art Today, The Moody Centre for the Arts, Houston, TX

2022 Pop South Asia: Artistic Explorations in the Popular, Sharjah Art Foundation, Al Shuwaiheen Arts Area, Sharjah

2022 Qatra Qatra, Fondazione Imago Mundi, Gallerie delle Prigioni, Treviso, IT

2022 Progetto Genesi. Arte e Diritti Umani, Villa Panza, Varese, IT

2021 Everything Has Its Place, Seville Dolmaci Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey

2021 Alphabetic Image, Arsenal Contemporary, New York, NY

2020 Yale Painting and Printmaking MFA 2020, Perrotin Gallery, NY,

2020 Oh To Be A Painting, Abigail Ogilvy Gallery, Boston, MA

2019 Hold On, Hold Me, Charles Moffett Gallery, New York, NY

2019 New Suns Chapter 2, Paramo Gallery, Guadalajara, Mexico

2019 Cybernetic Alchemy, Foreign (Material) Affairs, New Inc. New Museum, NY, NY

2018 Crying-Laughing, Friends & Neighbors Gallery, Montreal, QC

2016 Women Voices Now, Rolling Hill States, California

2016 Video Art Festival of Casablanca, Morocco

2016 The Art of the Burqa: Film, performance, Art & Dialogue, Pen + Brush Gallery, New York, NY

2016 RBC Canadian Painting Competition, Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC

2016 The 28th Festival Les Instants Vidéo, Milan Gallery, Marseille, France

2016 Distant Attachments: Unsettling Contemporary Afghan Diasporic Art, City Lore Gallery, New York, NY

2015 The Lost Dhow: A Discovery from the Maritime Silk Route, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, ON

Awards

2023 Kaiserring Stipendium, Moenchehaus Museum Goslar

2023 Canada Council for the Arts (Concept to Realization Grant)

2020 Yale School of Art Critical Practice Research Grant

2018 Arts Nova Scotia (Professional Development Grant)

2017 Toronto Arts Council (Individual Grant)

2017 Arts Equity Funding (Special Travel Grant)

2017 Arts Equity Funding & Canada Council for the Arts (Creation Grant)

2015 RBC Canadian Painting Competition (Honorable mention) Canada Fulbright Traditional Student Award

2014 Arts Equity Funding & Canada Council for the Arts (Creation Grant)

2013 Arts Nova Scotia (Presentation Grant)

2013 Portia White Prize Protege

2013 Creative Nova Scotia Grant

2012 Arts Nova Scotia Funding, Grants to Individuals

2012 Alexander J. McDonald Memorial Award

Selected Bibliography

Kathy Battista, “Hangama Amiri’s ‘A Homage to Home’ at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, and in the Sharjah Biennial.” Third Text, July 17, 2023.

Julie Baumgardner, “The Freshman Class of Art Basel: Meet 7 Dealers Making Their Debut at the 2023 Swiss Fair.” Cultured Mag, June 12, 2023.

Kate Taylor, “Museum Reclaims from the Mindfulness Set.” The Global and Mail, June 1, 2023.

Chris Dart, “This new exhibition wants you to know legendary poet Rumi 'as a once-living person'” CBC Art, May 15, 2023.

Raavya Bhattacharyya, “This Toronto exhibit showcases an ancient mystic who the world needs right now.” BlogTo, May 14, 2023.

Cleo Roberts-Komireddi, "Artists of the Asian diaspora turn hybridity into resilience at Art Basel." Art Basel, May 5, 2023.

Noelani Kirschner, "Afghan Women’s Lives, Past and Present." The American Scholar, April 23, 2023.

Eugenia Bell, "Home Isn't One Place: A Textile Tribute to the Afghan Diaspora." The Yale Review. April, 2023.

"Alumna Hangama Amiri Talks about Her First Solo Show in the United States." NSCAD University Alumni Profile, March 24, 2023.

Jordan Amirkhani, “Hangama Amiri’s Kaleidoscopic Textile Art Summons the Strength of Women in Afghanistan.” Art in America, February 10, 2023

Ted Loos, “An Artist Puts Kabul in a New Light (With Lipstick and Manicure).” New York Times, February 9, 2023

Annabel Keenan, “Hangama Amiri Will Not Let Freedom for Afghanistan Women Be Forgotten.” Cultured Mag, February 6, 2023

Joel Lang, “New Haven artist depicts memories and hopes for Afghanistan through fiber art at Aldrich show.” January 25, 2023

Vamika Sinha, “Material Worlds.” Canvas Issue 106, January, 2023

Shaikh Ayaz, "This show in Sharjah spotlights the exciting history of South Asian pop art." Architectural Digest India, November 8, 2022

Karl Cole, "Narrative Textiles." School Arts Magazine, November, 2022

Rahel Aima, "In ‘Pop South Asia’ Kitsch Reigns Supreme." Frieze, September 21, 2022

Hua Xi, "Back Draft: Hangama Amiri." Guernica, September 12, 2022

The Unheard Project, "In Conversation: Hangama Amiri." Unheard Journalism Project, July 18, 2022

Muheb Esmat, "Gham, Private Spheres, and Informal Support Systems: A Conversation with Hangama Amiri." C Magazine, April 19, 2022

Katya Conrad, "In Discussion with: Hangama Amiri Embracing the Process and Connecting Frontiers." Anaïs Lellouche, April 16, 2022

Samia Khan, "Home is Where the Art is." Newest Magazine, February 17, 2022

Elisa Carollo, "Hangama Amiri: A Thread Between Yale and Afghanistan." Art She Says, December 13, 2021

Sun Woo Baik, “Fiction Tells the Truth: A Q&A with Hangama Amiri.” Asparagus, October 29, 2021

Lila Nazemian, “Artist Spotlight with Hangama Amiri.” ArtEast, October 28, 2021

Georgia Gardner, “Hangama Amiri at Cooper Cole.” Art Toronto, October 25, 2021

Mike Cummings, “Artist honors refugees in a language that transcends borders: the emoji.” Yale News, June 17, 2021.

Taraneh Kelishadi, “Drawing Home and Hope.” UNHCR June 14, 2021.

Nicholas Keung, “Learn the Canadian refugee story behind this emoji.” June 13, 2021.

Emily Chun, “THE VISUAL VOCABULARY OF BELONGING IN HANGAMA AMIRI’S ‘WANDERING AMIDST THE COLORS’.” ArtAsiaPacific, April 26, 2021.

Chris Hampton, "Afghan-Canadian artist Hangama Amiri stitches the idea of 'home' into stunning textile portraits. " CBC Arts, April 16, 2021.

Caroline Blockus, "Interview: Hangama Amiri." ShePerforms, April 14, 2021.

Caroline Blockus, "NYC: Hangama Amiri ‘Wandering Amidst the Colors’. " ShePerforms, April 10, 2021.

Pearl Fontaine, "Hangama Amiri Looks at Ideas of Home Through Textiles." Whitewall, April 9, 2021.

Sarah Burney, "One Piece by Hangama Amiri: Areyeshgah-e Bahar." Kajal Magazine, Feb. 16, 2021.

Chiara Di Giorgio, "Chiara Di Giorgio in conversation with Hangama Amiri." T293 Gallery, Jan. 26, 2021.

Alessandra Giacopini, "Women's Business, On memories, bazaars and Afghan feminism: a conversation with Hangama Amiri", Nero Magazine, Jan 08, 2021.

Mario Gatti, "II bazar intercultuale di Hangama Amiri" Arts Life, Forum Uniche, Jan 01, 2021.

Beatice Benella, "Intessendo la trama dei ricordi con Hangama Amiri, alla galleria T293", Exibart, Dec, 29, 2020.

Manuela de Leonardis, "Ricordi dell' Afghanistan intessutinele stoffe colorate", II Manifesto, Dec 22, 2020.

Dessane Lopez Cassell, “Our Favorite MFA Work From Yale and RISD” Hyperallergic, August 27, 2020.

Emily Steer, “These are the Ascendant Artists to Watch” The Elephant Magazine, July 3. 2020.

Caroline Goldstein, “After Yale Staged its MFA Students’ Graduate Show IRL, Perotin Gallery Revived it Online” Art-Net, July 1. 2020.

Felicia Latour. “Afghan-Canadian artist Hangama Amiri on painting her heroines.” CBC Mains Street NS, Aug. 30. 2017.

Pary Shuaib. “Art Can Afghan Women-Express our Unique Selves.” Free Women Writers, Aug. 15. 2017.

Charles Mandel. “Afghan Heroines.” LightHouse Now, pg. 16, June. 28. 2017.

Zheela Nori. “Meet Hangama Amiri.” Voice of America Dari, Voice of America Dari, May. 10. 2017.

Stacy Parker Le Melle. “Whenever I call a friend.” The Huffington Post, June. 17. 2016.

Celeste Hamilton Dennis. “Art of the burqa: exploring the many narratives of the women under the veil.” Ivoh, New York, April. 18. 2016.

Noah Hurowitz. “Burqa Exhibit Coming to Flatiron Gallery This Weekend.” DNA info, New York, March. 3. 2016.

NotableCa. “Hangama Amiri: Today’s Young Notable Young Professional.” Dec. 21. 2015.

Suzanne Russell. “Secrets and Desires.” OF NOTE Magazine, The Burqa Issue, Dec. 7. 2015.

Evan Bower. “Local artist recognized with two national awards.” Lighthouse Now, Nov. 22. 2015.

Elissa Barnard. “Halifax Artist receives RBC award.” The Chronicle Herald, Halifax, Nov. 19. 2015.

Kevin C. Griffin. “RBC Painting winner to help foster Canadian-Filipino dialogue on art.”, The Vancouver Sun, Nov. 19. 2015.

Author Unknown “Guelph Artist Wins $25K RBC Canadian Painting Competition.” Canadian Art, Nov. 18. 2015.

James Adams. “Patrick Cruz wins $25,000 RBC Canadian Painting Competition.” The Globe And Mail, Nov. 18. 2015.

Lisa Paterson. “Hangama Amiri, Fulbright grant winner, headed to Yale University.” CBC News NS, Nov. 14. 2015.

Robert Hirtle. “Lunenburg artist wins Portia White Prize 2013.” Oct. 30. 2013.

Elissa Barnard. “Higgins shocked to win Masterworks Award.” The Chronicle Herald, Oct. 26. 2013.

Lectures/Workshops

2023 STAGE Speaker Series, PlugIn ICA, Winnipeg

2022 Artist Talk, "Place, Memory, and Gender in the Middle East" at Denver Museum of Art, Denver, CO, June 9.

2021 Art Lecture at Arkansas University, Fayetteville, AR, Nov 17.

2021 Art Lecture at Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, Nov 16.

2021 Art Lecture at Willamette University, Salem, OR, Oct 20.

2019 Embroidery Workshop at IRIS- Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, New Haven, CT, Nov 15 - Dec 30.

Residencies

2019 The Long Road Projects, Jacksonville, Florida

2018 World of CO. Residency Program, Sofia, Bulgaria

2017 JOYA: AiR, Arte + Ecologia Residency, Andalusia, Spain

2017 The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Banff, Alberta

2027 Lunenburg School of Art, Lunenburg, NS

2013 White Rabbit Arts. Economy, NS

2013 NSCAD-Lunenburg Community Residency Program. Lunenburg, NS

Public Collections

Naila Art Collection

Denver Art Museum

Genesi Collection

Jimenez-Colon

Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

RBC Corporate Collection

Nova Scotia Art Bank

Burger Collection