Shirazeh Houshiary facts for kids

A beautiful window designed by Shirazeh Houshiary for St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in London.

Shirazeh Houshiary RA (Persian: شیرازه هوشیاری; born 15 January 1955) is a talented artist from Iran who became a British citizen. She is known for her amazing sculptures, installation art (art that fills a space), and paintings. Shirazeh lives and works in London, England.

Life and Art Journey

Shirazeh Houshiary was born on January 15, 1955, in Shiraz, Iran. She moved from Iran in 1973 to pursue her art studies. From 1976 to 1979, she attended the Chelsea School of Art in London. She also spent a year as a junior fellow at Cardiff College of Art from 1979 to 1980.

Inspiration Behind Her Art

Shirazeh Houshiary's art is special because it often shows a strong influence from Persian culture. She shares a spiritual interest with other artists of her time, like Anish Kapoor. Her ideas are often inspired by Sufi mystical teachings and the writings of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi. Rumi was a famous Persian poet and mystic from the 13th century.

Recognized for Her Work

Shirazeh Houshiary was nominated for the famous Turner Prize in 1994. This award celebrates new and exciting art. In 2008, she created a special East Window for the historic St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in London. She worked with Pip Horne on this project.

In 2005, an organization called Creative Time asked Shirazeh Houshiary and Pip Horne to create a huge tower called Breath. This impressive artwork was shown in New York City. Her art has also been featured in major exhibitions. One was "Without Boundary: Seventeen Ways of Looking" at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 2006. Another was the 17th Biennale of Sydney in 2010.

Shirazeh Houshiary has also worked with animator Mark Hatchard to create animations for her gallery shows. These animations added another dimension to her art. Her work can be found in many important art collections around the world. These include the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Tate in London.

Selected Exhibitions

Shirazeh Houshiary's art has been shown in many galleries and museums. Here are a few examples of where her work has been displayed:

Solo Shows

• Shirazeh Houshiary, Lisson Gallery, London (1984)
• Shirazeh Houshiary, Museum of Modern Art, Oxford (1988)
• Dancing Around My Ghost, Camden Arts Centre, London (1988)

Group Shows

• New Art at the Tate Gallery, Tate Gallery, London (1983)
• The Sculpture Show, Hayward and Serpentine Galleries, London (1983)
• The Turner Prize, Tate Gallery, London (1994)

See also

• List of Iranian women artists