Ghazaleh Avarzamani
Ghazaleh Avarzamani (born in Tehran, Iran; lives and works between Toronto and Margate/UK) is an artist who works primarily in sculpture and installation. She is interested in how institutional structures and educational methodologies shape psycho-social constructions of knowledge and uses her practice as a way to question dominant power structures. Her large-scale works typically involve interactivity, and she frequently makes art in and about public space, utilizing signs and symbols familiar from pop culture and everyday life. Board games, origami, children’s playground equipment, and sports are all recurrent in her practice as objects that demonstrate the norms, rules, and invisible structures that shape human relations within society. For Avarzamani, the creation of spaces that are both inviting and potentially hazardous is a way to explore how games and play can be understood as tools that deconstruct, replicate, or transform public space. By examining the laws, rules, and systems that govern human behaviour, her work suggests different possibilities for disrupting hegemonic systems of power.
Ghazaleh Avarzamani trained in painting at Azad Art University, Tehran, and holds an MFA from Central Saint Martins, London. She is currently a resident at the TKE (Tracey Emin) Studios in Margate, UK (2023) and recently presented at the Dhaka Art Summit in Bangladesh (2023) and India (2023). Avarzamani has presented solo exhibitions at the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto (2021), MOCA Toronto (2021), Koffler Centre of the Arts, Toronto (2019), Ab-Anbar Gallery, Tehran (2016), Asia House, London (2014), and Light Gallery, London (2013), and has participated in international residencies, including at the Delfina Foundation (2022) and SOMA Mexico City (2018). Her work is held in private and public collections, including the Art Gallery of Ontario, Rockefeller Centre, Arsenal Contemporary, MOCA Toronto, TD Art Collection and Red Mansion.
Recent Exhibitions
Art Toronto 2023 - Booth B50
From October 26-29, 2023
Ghazaleh Avarzamani - The Armory Show 2023
From September 7-10, 2023
Ghazaleh Avarzamani - Particular Good Game for Self Punishment
From April 15, to May 20, 2023
Ghazaleh Avarzamani - Particular Good Game for Self Punishment
From February 10 to March 13, 2021
Selected Artworks
+ CV
EDUCATION
2018- Continuing Studies – Sculpture, OCAD, Toronto (ON)
2013- Master in Fine Art, Central Saint Martins, London, UK
2005- MA in Art - Painting, Azad Art University, Tehran, Iran
1999- BA in Art - Painting, Azad Art University, Tehran, Iran
RESIDENCIES
2023
- Tracey Emin Artist Residency, TKE Studios, Margate, UK
2022
- Delfina Foundation, London, UK
2021
- Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, Canada
2019
- Banff Art Center, Banff, Canada
2018
- MOCA Toronto Artist-in-Residence, Toronto (ON)
- SOMA Summer, Mexico City, Mexico
- ViaFarini, Milan, Italy
2013
- Red Mansion, Beijing, China
2010
- Greatmore, Cape Town, South Africa
GRANTS AND DISTINCTION
2020
- Toronto Art Council, Mid Career Visual Artist Creation Grant
- Ontario Art Council, Visual artist Creation Project Grant
2019
- Winner of The Ontario Exhibition of The Year Award/OAAG (Exposition monographie de l'année)
- Banff Jim Dinning and Evelyn Main Endowed Scholorship for Visual Arts
- Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant – The Power Plant
2018
- Ontario Arts Council, Visual Artists Creation Project Grant
- RBC Arts Access Fund Award
- Canada Council for Arts, Arts Abroad Grant
- Ontario Arts Council, International Residency Grant
- Toronto Arts Council, Newcomer Mentorship Award (Mentor: Nahed Mansur)
- Toronto Arts Council, Mid-Career Visual Artist Grant
2016
- Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grant – SAVAC
2015
- Nominated for Jameel Prize, London, UK
2013
- Iran Heritage Exhibition Grant, London, UK
- Winner of Red Mansion Art Prize 2013, Beijing, China
- Shortlisted for Threadneedle prize, Mall Galleries, London, UK
2009
- Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award, Dubai, UAE
+ Solo Exhibitions
2023
- Particular Good Game for Self Punishment, Galerie Nicolas Robert, Montréal (Qc)
2022
- Aga Khan Museum, Toronto (ON)
2021
- Aga Khan Museum, Toronto (ON)
- Particular Good Game for Self Punishment, Galerie Nicolas Robert, Montréal (QC)
2019
- Canadian Art Magazine, Art Toronto, Toronto (ON)
- Never Never Land, Koffler Centre for Arts, Toronto (ON) Curator: Mona Filip
2016
- Masterplan, Ab/Anbar Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2014
- Appologie for Understanding, Asia House, London, UK
2013
- Utopia, Etemad Gallery, Tehran, Iran
- Utopia, Light Gallery, London, UK
- MFA Thesis Exhibition, CSM Lethaby Gallery, London, UK
2003-2008
- Hyatt Project Space, Insomnia, Dubai, United arab emirates
+ Selected Group Exhibitions
2021
- Greater Toronto Art, MOCA, Toronto (ON)
2020
- Crawling Out of A Hidden Place, Arsenal Contemporary Art, Toronto (ON)
2019
- Frieze Sculpture Park, London, Royaume-Unis
2018
- Exfoliation, Akin Window Gallery, Toronto (ON)
- Bocconi 18, Bocconi Art Gallery, Milan, Italy
- Contemporary Chaos, Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium Museum, Vestfossen, Norway
2017
- Parting Lines, OCAD Gallery, Toronto (ON) Curator: Lauren Schaffer and Camille Rauton.
2016
- ARTIFACTS: Akin X Project, Project Gallery, Toronto (ON)
- RTL/LTR, Artmark Gallery, Vienna, Austria
- RTL/LTR, Galerie Forum, Wels, Austria
- Manpower Art Festival 16, Lisbon, Portugal
- RCA SECRET, Art Dubai, Dubai, UAE
- Red Mansion, Triangle Space and Cookhouse Gallery, London, UK
2015
- Curatorial Project: Jabberwocky, Ab/Anbar Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2014
- Meaning of Happiness, Homa Gallery, Tehran, Iran
- Red Mansion Art Prize, Royal College of Art, London, UK
2013
- Threadneedle Prize, Mall Galleries, London, UK
- Oblivion, Project space, London, UK
2012
- Art Pavilion, London, UK
- Mise–en–scène, Etemad Gallery, Dubai, UAE
- Haft Negah, Niavaran Cultural Centre, Tehran, Iran
- MFA Interim Exhibition, V22 Art Space, London, UK
- Xhibit, Menier Gallery, London, UK
- Xhibit, Kingsgate Workshop Trust, London, UK
- Xhibit, CSM Windows Gallery, London, UK
2011
- Project 2012 End Of The World, Gallery on the Corner, London, UK
- Project 2012 End Of The World, Gallery on the Corner, London, UK
2000/10
- Creek Art Festival, Dubai, UAE
- Memory, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE
- Duality, XVA Gallery, Dubai, UAE
- New Signature, Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award Exhibition, Dubai, UAE
- Art Biennial, Niavaran Gallery, Tehran, Iran
- Iran the land of peace, Niavaran Cultural Center, Tehran, Iran
- New Generation, Jahan Nama Gallery, Tehran, Iran
- Civilization’s Dialogue, Afrand Gallery, Tehran, Iran
+ Art Fairs
2023
- The Armory Show, Javits Center, New York
2019
- Canadian Art Magazine Solo Booth Commission, Art Toronto, Toronto
- (ON)
- Frieze Sculpture Park, London, UK
- Artissima Art Fair, Torino, Italy
2018
- Art Dubai, Dubai, UAE
2017
- Artissima Art Fair, Torino, Italy
+ Press and publications
2019
- ARITCHETA, Allyson (2019). « Never Ever Land », loose leaf magazine, 15 mars.
- HEATHER, Rosemary (2019). « Ghazaleh Avarzamani : Never Ever Land », catalogue de l’exposition chez Koffler Gallery, 19 pages.
- BBC Persian, Tamasha
2018
- ESMAILPOUR, Nima (2018). « An Artist Who Cannot Speak “Engeeleesee” Is No Artist », Arte Al Limite Magazine, Chile
- Far From Iran, Fondazione Milano, Scuola Civica Di Milano, Luchino Visconti
2016
- FAYEZ, Arash (2016). A CLOSE-CIRCUIT TEXT WITH 10 FIGURES AND
- (NO) APPENDIX, catalogue essay.
- KING, Daniella Rose (2016). Play what's not there, catalogue essay.
- Ab-anbar Gallery (2016). MASTERPLAN, published in conjunction with a solo exhibition at Ab-anbar Gallery.
2015
- ALIPOUR, Yasaman (2015). « Letter from Tehran », The Brooklyn Rail, published on October 5.
- DAS, Jareh (2015). « Towards a critical evaluation of contemporary art in Tehran », British Council Underline Magazine
- KESHMIRSHEKAN, Hamid (2015). « Contemporary Iranian Art », Nazar
- Publication
2014
- Unknown Author (2014). « Ghazaleh Avarzamani », Tehran Times,
- published on December 5.
2013
- MICHAELSKAJA, Sinaida (2013). « Interview », Kraute Magazine, Düsseldorf, Germany
- UTOPIA, Published in conjunction with a solo exhibition by the artist at Light Gallery, London
2012
- LORD, Christopher (2012). « Artful auction gets under way in Dubai », The National News, [Online] published on April 17, https://bit.ly/3uUoEoQ
- HEWETTE, Jenny (2012). Iranian Art at Gallery Etemad, Timeout Dubai, [Online], published on July 10, https://bit.ly/3hm5YuA
2008
- AYOUB, Diana (2008). « I learned the meaning of loss early », Emirates Today, published on September 2.
2007
- Interview with Ghazaleh Avarzamani, CITY 7 TV, Dubai, UAE
- CECCARELLI, Luigi (2007). Interview with Ghazaleh Avarzamani, RAI TV, Italy
- TESI, Stefano (2007). Meridiani Magazine, Italy
2006
- Interview with Ghazaleh Avarzamani, Maktoob TV, Amman, Jordan