Today we’d like to introduce you to Shahrbanoo Hamzeh.
Hi Shahrbanoo, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m Shahrbanoo Hamzeh, an Iranian artist and curator. I left my homeland seven years ago, but my connection to Iran and its people remains central to my life and work. Over the years, I’ve curated many exhibitions, including shows related to the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, one of which took place here in Dallas. Being both an artist and an audience to art has been a way for me to process intense experiences—from witnessing my people fight and die for freedom to navigating motherhood and parenting.
Over time, I have approached being an artist as a lifestyle—a conscious choice to live creatively and honestly every day, beyond making paintings. My work, my curatorial projects, and my engagement with art in everyday life are all part of this commitment to create meaning and stay connected to my people and my experiences. I see art not only as a practice but as a tool for processing life, whether it’s grappling with longing for my homeland or exploring the challenges and joys of identity and motherhood.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey has been far from smooth. Living under and fleeing from a repressive theocracy, navigating life in the diaspora, and balancing motherhood with a creative practice has required resilience. Leaving Iran meant starting over in a foreign country, facing cultural displacement, and redefining my sense of home while carrying grief, fear, and longing for my people. Motherhood added another layer: caring for my son while witnessing heartbreak from afar demanded emotional strength.
Yet these challenges also inform my work and give it depth. Art has been both a sanctuary and a tool for understanding, processing, and confronting the world around me. I’ve overcome these challenges by committing to action—doing something every day, exploring different forms of creative expression, and embracing ambivalence: holding hope and grief simultaneously, balancing the joy of parenting with the pain of exile, and finding creative outlets for both. These practices help me remain grounded, connected, and continually inspired.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a painter and curator whose practice explores themes of home, displacement, and the female body. My current series, Nothing Stays the Same, delves into the complexities of the female body, reflecting on aging, motherhood, pain, and resilience through a blend of abstraction and figuration. My work also engages with human rights and advocacy, particularly for Iranian women.
I have curated exhibitions, including those connected to the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, as a way to create spaces for conversation, amplify voices, and foster empathy through art. What sets my practice apart is this intersection of personal, political, and cultural narratives—the intertwining of lived experience with collective struggle. It functions both as self-expression and social commentary, embracing contradiction and ambivalence, and reflecting hope alongside pain. I believe art can help both the creator and the audience process life, trauma, and hope.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I Like Your Work is a podcast that excites me as an artist. It shares stories of different artists, offering a reminder that each creative journey is unique, full of its own challenges and breakthroughs. Listening to it helps me reflect on my own path and reinforces the value of persistence, curiosity, and honesty in the artistic process.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shahrbanoohamzeh.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shahrbanoohamzeh.art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shahrbanoo.hamzeh.3
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahrbanoo-hamzeh-5505741b0/
Image Credits
Shahrzad Hamzeh
