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Shirazeh Houshiary

Since rising to prominence as a sculptor in the 1980s, Shirazeh Houshiary’s practice has swelled to encompass painting, installation, architectural projects and film. “I set out to capture my breath,” she said in 2000, to “find the essence of my own existence, transcending name, nationality, cultures.” Veils, membranes and mists are leitmotifs in work that tries to visualise modes of perception, spanning the scientific and the cosmic while drawing on sources as wide-ranging as Sufism, Renaissance painting, contemporary physics and poetry. Houshiary finds succour in the transformation of material: Arabic words, one an affirmation the other a denial, are pencil-stroked onto canvas so lightly, and clouded over by finely wrought skeins of pigment, that they morph in front of the naked eye and defy reproduction. So too, aluminium armatures and elliptical brick towers, charged with dynamic tension, appear different from every angle, as if negating their own presence; her commission for the East window of St Martin in the Fields, London, presents a cross, warped and spanning from a circular motif, as if reflected in water. “The universe is in a process of disintegration,” she says, “everything is in a state of erosion, and yet we try to stabilise it. This tension fascinates me and it’s at the core of my work” (2013).

Shirazeh Houshiary was born in Shiraz, Iran in 1955, where she attended university before moving to London, UK in 1974. She has a BA from Chelsea School of Art (1979) and lives and works in London, UK. She became a Royal Academician in 2022. She has had solo exhibitions at the Long Museum, Shanghai, China (2023), Lisson Gallery, London (2021), Shanghai (2020), and New York (2017); Singapore Tyler Print Institute, Singapore (2016); The Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin, Ireland (2007); Tate Liverpool, UK (2003); Islamic Gallery, British Museum, London, UK (1997); Magasin-Centre national d’art contemporain, Grenoble, France (1995); University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA (1994); Camden Arts Centre, London, UK (1993); Musée Rath, Geneva, Switzerland (1988); and in 2013, her exhibition ‘Breath’ was a celebrated Collateral Event of the 55th Venice Biennale in Italy. 

Recent group exhibitions include: ‘No Forms’ (curated by Margot Norton), The Hill Art Foundation, New York, NY, USA (2022); ‘Breaking the Mould: Sculpture by Women since 1945: An Arts Council Collection Touring Exhibition’, The Levinsky Gallery, The Arts Institute, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK; Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield, UK; Djanogly Gallery, Lakeside Arts, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK (2021-2022); ‘Artists and the Rothko Chapel: 50 Years of Inspiration’, Moody Center for the Arts, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA (2021); ‘Abstraction and Calligraphy − Towards a Universal Language’, Louvre Abu Dhabi in collaboration with Centre Pompidou, Abu Dhabi, UAE (2021); ‘Spirit and Endeavour’, Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury, UK (2020); Jesus College, Cambridge, UK (2017); Fondazione Palazzo Albizzini, Collezione Burri, Citta di Castello, Perugia, Italy (2016); University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, MI, USA (2014). Her work has been included in major group exhibitions since the 1980s including: Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, OH, USA (2011); Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, USA (2007); Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy (2002); Rijksmuseum Kröller-Müller, Otterlo, Netherlands (1990); Centre Pompidou, Paris, France (1989); Louisiana Museum, Humlebaek, Denmark (1986). She has also participated in numerous biennials including Cartagena deIndias, Colombia (2014); Kiev Biennale, Ukraine (2012); the 17th Biennale of Sydney, Australia (2010); and the 40th Venice Biennale, Italy (1982). She was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1994.

 

Recent, current and forthcoming projects

'Shirazeh Houshiary: Rhizome', The Long Museum, Shanghai, China (5 March – 7 May 2023)

 

Time Curve

Shirazeh Houshiary
Time Curve

2023
Pigment and pencil and black Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
120 x 120 x 4 cm
47 1/4 x 47 1/4 x 1 5/8 in

Time Curve

Shirazeh Houshiary
Time Curve

2023
Pigment and pencil and black Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
120 x 120 x 4 cm
47 1/4 x 47 1/4 x 1 5/8 in

Rhizome

Shirazeh Houshiary
Rhizome

Installation view
Long Museum, Shanghai, China, 5 March – 7 May 2023

Rhizome

Shirazeh Houshiary
Rhizome

Installation view
Long Museum, Shanghai, China, 5 March – 7 May 2023

Rhizome

Shirazeh Houshiary
Rhizome

Installation view
Long Museum, Shanghai, China, 5 March – 7 May 2023

Rhizome

Shirazeh Houshiary
Rhizome

Installation view
Long Museum, Shanghai, China, 5 March – 7 May 2023

Rhizome

Shirazeh Houshiary
Rhizome

Installation view
Long Museum, Shanghai, China, 5 March – 7 May 2023

Rhizome

Shirazeh Houshiary
Rhizome

Installation view
Long Museum, Shanghai, China, 5 March – 7 May 2023

Maelstrom

Shirazeh Houshiary
Maelstrom

2022
Aluminium
Dimensions Variable

Maelstrom

Shirazeh Houshiary
Maelstrom

2022
Aluminium
Dimensions Variable

Zygote

Shirazeh Houshiary
Zygote

2022
Pigment and pencil on black Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
190 x 400 x 5 cm
74 3/4 x 157 1/2 x 2 in

Zygote

Shirazeh Houshiary
Zygote

2022
Pigment and pencil on black Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
190 x 400 x 5 cm
74 3/4 x 157 1/2 x 2 in

Cygnus

Shirazeh Houshiary
Cygnus

2022
Pigment and pencil on black Aquacryl on aluminium
190 x 190 x 5 cm
74 3/4 x 74 3/4 x 2 in

Cygnus

Shirazeh Houshiary
Cygnus

2022
Pigment and pencil on black Aquacryl on aluminium
190 x 190 x 5 cm
74 3/4 x 74 3/4 x 2 in

Just So

Shirazeh Houshiary
Just So

2022
Aluminium
136 x 77 cm each
53 1/2 x 30 3/8 in each
 

Tempest

Shirazeh Houshiary
Tempest

2022
Pigment and pencil on black Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
190 x 400 x 5 cm
74 3/4 x 157 1/2 x 2 in

Tempest

Shirazeh Houshiary
Tempest

2022
Pigment and pencil on black Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
190 x 400 x 5 cm
74 3/4 x 157 1/2 x 2 in

Cleave

Shirazeh Houshiary
Cleave

2022
Glass and stainless steel
120 x 56 x 43 cm
47 1/4 x 22 x 16 7/8 in

Cleave

Shirazeh Houshiary
Cleave

2022
Glass and stainless steel
120 x 56 x 43 cm
47 1/4 x 22 x 16 7/8 in

The Songs of the Earth

Shirazeh Houshiary
The Songs of the Earth

2021
Pigment and pencil on white aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
190 x 400 x 5 cm
74 3/4 x 157 1/2 x 2 in

The Songs of the Earth

Shirazeh Houshiary
The Songs of the Earth

2021
Pigment and pencil on white aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
190 x 400 x 5 cm
74 3/4 x 157 1/2 x 2 in

The Loom of Time

Shirazeh Houshiary
The Loom of Time

2021
Pigment and pencil on black Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
190 x 190 x 5 cm
74 3/4 x 74 3/4 x 2 in

The Loom of Time

Shirazeh Houshiary
The Loom of Time

2021
Pigment and pencil on black Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
190 x 190 x 5 cm
74 3/4 x 74 3/4 x 2 in

Seif

Shirazeh Houshiary
Seif

2020
Glass and stainless steel
335 x 37.5 x 37.5 cm
131 7/8 x 14 3/4 x 14 3/4 in

Installation view at the Moody Center for the Arts, Rice University, 2021

Courtesy Moody Center for the Arts, Rice University
Photo: Nash Baker

Chimera

Shirazeh Houshiary
Chimera

2020
Pigment and pencil on black Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
190 x 190 x 5.5 cm
74 3/4 x 74 3/4 x 2 1/8 in
 

Chimera

Shirazeh Houshiary
Chimera

2020
Pigment and pencil on black Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
190 x 190 x 5.5 cm
74 3/4 x 74 3/4 x 2 1/8 in
 

Mind and Matter

Shirazeh Houshiary
Mind and Matter

2020
Pigment and pencil on white Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
120 x 120 x 5.5 cm
47 1/8 x 47 1/8 x 2 1/8 in

Mind and Matter

Shirazeh Houshiary
Mind and Matter

2020
Pigment and pencil on white Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
120 x 120 x 5.5 cm
47 1/8 x 47 1/8 x 2 1/8 in

Duet

Shirazeh Houshiary
Duet

2020
Cast aluminium and paint
112.8 x 130 x 40 cm
44 3/8 x 51 1/8 x 15 3/4 in

Iris

Shirazeh Houshiary
Iris

2019
Pigment and pencil on black Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
120 x 120 x 5.5 cm
47 1/8 x 47 1/8 x 2 1/8 in

Alar

Shirazeh Houshiary
Alar

2016
Glass and mirror-polished stainless steel
145 x 118 x 118 cm
57 1/8 x 46 1/2 x 46 1/2 in

Umbra

Shirazeh Houshiary
Umbra

2019
Pencil and pigment on black Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
120 x 120 cm
47 1/8 x 47 1/8 in

Allegory of Sight

Shirazeh Houshiary
Allegory of Sight

2015
Cast painted stainless steel
43 x 120 x 43 cm
17 x 47 1/4 x 17 in

Veil

Shirazeh Houshiary
Veil

2002
White Aquacryl with pigment and pencil on canvas 190 x 190 cm 74 3/4 x 74 3/4 in

Flux

Shirazeh Houshiary
Flux

2015
Glass bricks and stainless steel rings
135 cm height Ø 89 cm 

Deep

Shirazeh Houshiary
Deep

2010
Blue, pink and lilac pencil and pigments on black Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
190 x 270 cm
74 3/4 x 106 1/4 in

String Quintet

Shirazeh Houshiary
String Quintet

2011
Cast stainless steel
Height 500 cm
Height 196 7/8 in

Flood

Shirazeh Houshiary
Flood

2010
Blue pencil with black and white aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
270 x 190 cm
106 1/4 x 74 3/4 in

Swift

Shirazeh Houshiary
Swift

2016
Cast aluminium
132 x 84.5 x 35.2 cm
52 x 33 1/4 x 13 7/8 in

Flit

Shirazeh Houshiary
Flit

2017
Pigment and pencil on white Aquacryl on canvas on aluminium
(triptych)190 x 810 x 5 cm; 74 3/4 x 318 7/8 x 2 in

Christmas Tree

Shirazeh Houshiary
Christmas Tree

2016/1993
Tree and gold leaf
Photograph courtesy Joe Humphreys, Tate Photography.

Right of Spring

Shirazeh Houshiary
Right of Spring

2012
Pencil, pigment and black Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
190 x 190 cm
74 7/8 x 74 7/8 in

Exuviae

Shirazeh Houshiary
Exuviae

2016-2017
Glass and mirror-polished stainless steel
291.8 x 37.5 x 28 cm
114 7/8 x 14 3/4 x 11 in

Installation image: Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, New Orleans Museum of Art. Photography: Richard Sexton. Courtesy Shirazeh Houshiary.

Between

Shirazeh Houshiary
Between

2010/2011
White pencil, red and white pigment with white Aquacryl on black Aquacryl ground on canvas and aluminium panel
(diptych) 190 x 540 cm; 74.8 x 212.6 in (diptych)

Commission for St Martin-in-the- Fields, London

Shirazeh Houshiary
Commission for St Martin-in-the- Fields, London

2008
Shirazeh Houshiary and Pip Horne
Etched mouth blown clear glass and shot peened stainless steel frame

Bloom

Shirazeh Houshiary
Bloom

2006
Aluminium and steel
98.6 x 70.8 x 611.3 cm
38 7/8 x 28 x 240 5/8 in

Photo: Hirofumi Tani

Deluge

Shirazeh Houshiary
Deluge

2012
Pencil, pigment and white Aquacryl on canvas and aluminium
120 x 120 cm
47 1/4 x 47 1/4 in

Chrysalis

Shirazeh Houshiary
Chrysalis

(Detail)
2016-2017
Glass and mirror-polished stainless steel
120 x 81 x 44 cm
47 1/4 x 31 7/8 x 17 3/8 in

Mirage, 2017

Shirazeh Houshiary
Mirage, 2017

Pigment and pencil on white Aquacryl on canvas on aluminium
190 x 270 x 5 cm
74 3/4 x 106 1/4 x 2 in

Only a Flicker

Shirazeh Houshiary
Only a Flicker

2016
190 x 190 x 5.3 cm
74 3/4 x 74 3/4 x 2 1/8 in

Only a Flicker

Shirazeh Houshiary
Only a Flicker

2016
190 x 190 x 5.3 cm
74 3/4 x 74 3/4 x 2 1/8 in

Only a Flicker

Shirazeh Houshiary
Only a Flicker

2016
190 x 190 x 5.3 cm
74 3/4 x 74 3/4 x 2 1/8 in

Exhibitions

  1. Shirazeh Houshiary: The Sound of One Hand - current exhibition

    Shirazeh Houshiary: The Sound of One Hand

    14 September – 2 November 2024

  2. Shirazeh Houshiary - past exhibition

    Shirazeh Houshiary

    18 August – 28 August 2022

  3. Portals - past exhibition

    Portals

    10 February – 9 April 2022

  4. Shirazeh Houshiary: Pneuma - past exhibition

    Shirazeh Houshiary: Pneuma

    22 June – 31 July 2021

  5. Selected works in London - past exhibition

    Selected works in London

    8 December 2020 – 12 January 2021

  6. Shirazeh Houshiary: As Time Stood Still - past exhibition

    Shirazeh Houshiary: As Time Stood Still

    11 September – 24 October 2020

  7. Shirazeh Houshiary - past exhibition

    Shirazeh Houshiary

    10 September – 20 September 2020

  8. Shirazeh Houshiary: Nothing is deeper than the skin - past exhibition

    Shirazeh Houshiary: Nothing is deeper than...

    3 November – 22 December 2017

  9. Shirazeh Houshiary: Smell of First Snow - past exhibition

    Shirazeh Houshiary: Smell of First Snow

    22 May – 4 July 2015

  10. Shirazeh Houshiary: Breath - past exhibition

    Shirazeh Houshiary: Breath

    1 June – 24 November 2013

  11. Shirazeh Houshiary - past exhibition

    Shirazeh Houshiary

    6 June – 27 July 2012

  12. Shirazeh Houshiary: No Boundary Condition - past exhibition

    Shirazeh Houshiary: No Boundary Condition

    12 October – 12 November 2011

  13. Shirazeh Houshiary: Self Portraits - past exhibition

    Shirazeh Houshiary: Self Portraits

    20 September – 21 October 2000

  14. Shirazeh Housiary: The Sense of Unity - past exhibition

    Shirazeh Housiary: The Sense of Unity

    16 September – 15 October 1994

  15. Shirazeh Houshiary: Isthmus - past exhibition

    Shirazeh Houshiary: Isthmus

    8 May – 20 June 1992

  16. Shirazeh Houshiary: Breath: Recent Sculpture - past exhibition

    Shirazeh Houshiary: Breath: Recent Sculpture

    28 September – 31 October 1987

  17. Shirazeh Houshiary - past exhibition

    Shirazeh Houshiary

    11 October – 3 November 1984

Shop

  1. Nothing is deeper than the skin

    Nothing is deeper than the skin

  2. Smell of First Snow

    Smell of First Snow

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