
04/27/2025
For this ShowUp is delighted to feature the incredible work of Arghavan Khosravi.
Hailing from Iran and currently based in Stamford, Connecticut, Khosravi is known for her intricate constructions and multi-paneled paintings works that push the boundaries of painting into the realm of installation.
Drawing on the aesthetics of ancient Persian miniature painting—an art form traditionally used to illustrate folkloric texts—Khosravi interrogates the visual narratives that have historically portrayed women in subservient or secondary roles. Her work takes a critical look at how these long-standing iconographies continue to influence Iranian gender politics today.
One of the most striking characteristics of Khosravi’s work is its multi-dimensionality. Constructed from a complex scaffolding of cut and painted wooden panel; Her use of symbolic visual motifs—such as black plumes, rockets, and cages—references corrupted economic and political systems, while recurring depictions of shackled female bodies or sewn mouths speak to the systemic silencing and oppression of women.
View more of Arghavan's work at her website (link in bio) or give her a follow