EDUCATION
2011 | Master of Fine Arts (Merit), Central St Martins University of the Arts London, UK
2004 | Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication, major in photography, American University in Dubai, UAE
2001 | Theatre Studies, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018 | Harvest (Tehran series) | Mah Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2016 | Medial Women | The Bear and the Bean, Oxford, UK
2016 | Medial Women | Blue Boar, University of Oxford, UK
2015 | Expressions to Nepal | The Mine, Dubai, UAE
2012 | To Heaven To Hell | Jorjani Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2012 | Clippings | Jorjani Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2011 | Afghanistan 1996-… | Central St. Martins, University of the Arts London, UK
2011 | Open Situation II (collaborative performance) | Byam Shaw School of the Arts London, UK
2011 | Open Situation I (collaborative performance) | Archway Park, London, UK
2011 | Holy Movement | Movenpick Hotel, Dubai, UAE
2010 | Virginity Certificate | Central St. Martins, University of the Arts London, UK
2010 | Marked | Central St. Martins, University of the Arts London, UK
2010 | Through Iran; Memories of Tehran | Private Viewing, Dubai, UAE
2009 | Holy Movement | Private Viewing, Dubai, UAE
2009 | Honey (collaborative project) | Jam Jar Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2008 | Holy Movement | Atbin Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 | Fictional Landscapes | Foundry | Dubai, UAE
2021 | Regeneration | DIFC Art Nights | Dubai, UAE
2018 | Campus Art Dubai Open Studios | Project Space Art Jameel, Dubai, UAE
2018 | Office Run | Regus Dubai World Trade Center CB1 | Dubai, UAE
2018 | Sonorous Symmetry | samt volume .2 | London, UK
2017 | CAD 2017 Alumni Open Studios | Project Space Art Jameel, Dubai, UAE
2017 | Summer Group Exhibition | Cuadro Fine Art Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2016 | Universal Post (collaborative project) | Campus Art Dubai | Art Dubai Fair, Dubai, UAE
2016 | Art in Secret | Showcase Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2015 | Vantage Point Sharjah 3 | Saf Art Spaces, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE
2013 | Vantage Point Sharjah | Saf Art Spaces, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE
2013 | The Walls of My City | Arte Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2013 | Air Pollution Visual Art Exhibition | Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran, Iran
2012 | Untitled | Negah Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2011 | MA Fine Art Degree Show 2011 | Central St. Martins University of the Arts London, UK
2011 | MA Fine Art Auction 2011 | Central St. Martins University of the Arts London, UK
2011 | From Charing to King’s | Central St. Martins, University of the Arts London, UK
2011 | From Charing to King’s | Agnus b, London, UK
2011 | The New Pretenders | Barge House Oxo Tower, London, UK
2010 | Hues of Swirling | Springs Community, Dubai, UAE
2009 | Young Collectors Art Fair | Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2008 | The 11th Iran Photo Biennial | Saba Cultural Center, Tehran, Iran
2005 | Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin | The Bar, Hayyat Regency, Dubai, UAE
2004 | AUD 2004 Graduate Show | American University in Dubai, UAE
2003 | Exposed | American University in Dubai, UAE
2002 | Motion | Five Art Gallery, Dubai, UAE
CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
2023 | Speaker | Dubai Women Circle
Invited speaker to a series of talks on ‘Injustice towarsd women’ to discuss artistic perspective on gender pardaigms
2023 | Selected Artist | Campus Art Dubai 10 Core Programme, Dubai
Select artist among a group of UAE-based artists exploring the realm of public art, building sector knowledge and practitioner capability in the rapidly developing field of public art commissioning. The programme is delivered in partnership with Dubai Culture under the recently announced Dubai Public Art initiative.
2021 | Moderator | Dubai Expo 2020, Spain Pavillion, Dubai
The talk on ‘Materialities from Scale to Perspective’ with participation from artists Ines J Pedras and Azza Al Qubaisi
2021 | Moderator | Al Murabbaa Arts Festival, Ajman
The talk on ‘Careers in Culture in the UAE’ with participation from artists Mouza Almatrooshi and Ammar Khalfan Al Attar explored the career opportunities and challenges for artists with UAE creative economy’s growth
2020 | Speaker | Art Quarantine Session 4 | Online platform organised by The Mine and art write and editor Nadine Khalil
. A conversation exploring the role of art and artist in creating awareness and criticality addressing issues that characterise limitations of artistic discourses during a pandemic
2019 - now | Advisor | Council of Art, Architecture and Design, American University of Dubai
2018 | Instructor | Performing Art Workshop | Project Space Art Jameel, Dubai
. A three-hour public Performing Art Workshop, inspired by Black Market International, culminating in a forty-five minute open-situation durational collaborative performance
2018 | Participating Artist and Alumna | Campus Art Dubai Open Studio | Project Space Art Jameel, Dubai
. A six-week studio practice by collaboration among five Campus Art Dubai alumni, supported by Art Jameel and Art Dubai; concluding with an open-studio for public, showcasing developed works over the course of residency
Nov 2018 | Speaker | Tashkeel, Dubai
. Dialogue on potential challenges of international and local art residencies . Tashkeel is a multi-disciplinary studio, work space and gallery for creative practice, experimentation and dialogue among practitioners and the wider community
Feb 2018 | Speaker | 1646 Project Space, Netherlands
. Presentation of the ongoing research and project ‘Harvest’, followed by an open dialogue exploring the questions of belonging and investment within the realm of pseudo-homeland or borrowed and temporary spaces
Feb - Mar 2018 | Selected Artist | Kooshk Residency Iran-Europe Exchange Program | 1646 Project Space, Netherlands
. Kooshk is an international exchange, partnership and award program for inter-culture dialogue and art creation between Iran and cultural institutes worldwide . 1646 is a platform and project-space for contemporary art, experimental art practices and ideas, new productions and presentations
2017 - 18 | Selected Artist | Campus Art Dubai 6.0 Core Programme | Dubai
. An intensive five-month course with a highly competitive membership level under mentorship of world-renowned curators, critics, academics and artists
. Drawing from a variety of media across literature, cinema and sound CAD 6.0 interrogated the idea of ‘genres’ and their constituent elements as means to think through many ways in which places like the Gulf can be envisioned
Jan 2018 | Speaker | Tate Modern Exchange | Tate Modern London
. Selected speaker for “Sawt (b): Flag Continent, a geopolitical study of content” discussions on censorship and anonymity in art as means to free speech in Middle East
. Presentation of an 8-year research evaluating the sociopolitical restructuring of Iranian art throughout history- Looking At Me, Looking At You. Development of Iranian Art Through Political Restructures, Restructuring Political Developments Through Iranian Art
Dec 2017 | Panelist | Alserkal Arts Foundation Public Program | Dubai
. A public discussion titled Making Space: Artist-run initiatives and their place in the city, exploring potential approaches to forming artist-led structures in the city of Dubai, while ruminating over the types of projects that may be initiated and their logistics of operation
2017 | Co-founder & Jury | Campus Art Dubai Alumni Grant | Dubai
. Co-founder of a peer-run grant with support from Art Dubai and Art Jameel. The grant aims to support the artistic practice of Campus Art Dubai alumni to help develop autonomous artistic growth in ME art community
. This grant was launched in November 2017, open to all previous participants of Campus Art Dubai, to be used for the research, exploration, development and production of a new work or from a pre-existing process/series
2017 | Participating Artist and Alumna | Campus Art Dubai Open Studio | Project Space Art Jameel, Dubai
. A six-week studio practice by collaboration among seven Campus Art Dubai alumni, supported by Art Jameel and Art Dubai; concluded with an open-studio for public, showcasing developed works over the course of residency
2016 - 17 | Selected Artist | Campus Art Dubai 5.0 Core Programme| Dubai
. An intensive six-month course with a highly competitive membership level
. Programme is under mentorship of world-renowned curators, featuring seminars, critiques, off-site visits, workshops led by a local and international cast of academics, critics, artists and curators
. CAD 5.0 interrogated the methodologies with which we engage with and invest in our surroundings locally, globally and in between spaces, investigating ‘engagement’ and ‘re-thinking investment’
Apr 2016 | Speaker | ‘BOLD talks Woman’ | DUCTAC, UAE
. Lecture on contribution, efforts and advancements made by female leaders in arts in Middle East in closing international gaps through culture and arts, followed by Q&A
. BOLD talks is a series of events hosting a selection of acclaimed international speakers that present on diversified discussions, facilitating shared exploration towards greater understanding, connection and possibilities at a community level
Jan 2016 | Speaker | ‘Women and the Canon International Conference’ | University of Oxford
· Lecture on gender and authority in Iran, particularly the obscurity of Iranian female artists in Modernism and factors for flourishing female talent in the post-revolution contemporary art scene
. Attendees included senior members from +10 universities including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Stanford University, New York University, University of Gothenburg, Stockholm University, etc.
2015 - 16 | Selected Artist | Campus Art Dubai 4.0 Core Programme | Dubai
. An intensive six-month course with a highly competitive membership level
. The programme academically, conceptually and contextually took on the theme ‘Turbulent Waters, Shifting Sands’ and explored what it means to exist in the fluid geographies and topographies of the MENA region, while challenging fixed notions of borders, identity, architecture, urban development and trade through course material, workshops, critiques and seminars
Dec 2013 | Speaker | Design School of Art and Architecture, Central Tehran Branch, Azad University
. Lecture on the intersection of conceptual art and performance in contemporary art
. Attendees included senior faculty and MFA students
Dec 2013 | Mentor | Design School of Art and Architecture, Central Tehran Branch, Azad University
. Two-hour workshop on foundation of ‘Black Market Int Performance’; participants included MFA students
2011 | Selected Artist | Critique Session by Turner Prize Winner Mark Leckey | Serpentine Gallery, London
. Participation and presentation of works in progress at Leckey's workshop and lecture
2011 | Selected Artist | Black Market Performance Program | Byam Shaw School of Arts, London
. Selected by BMI founder Tomas Ruller in collaboration with University of Arts London
2003 | Photographer and Representative | Animation Art, Alarabyia Productions, UAE
. Selected by recommendation of AUD’s Dean of Arts, Professor Frank Petrella, for the production of Dubai 24 Hours publication and documentary directed by Micheal Charles Tobias
Mar 2003 | Selected Artist | Dubai Center for Special Needs, Dubai UAE
. Selected artist for a mural project at Dubai Centre for Special Needs by recommendation of artist Reetika Rajpal
PUBLICATIONS
Masinaei, S. (2014) Record-breakings in Iranian art world in year 2014. BBC Persian: Art. Available from: <http://www.bbc.com/persian/arts/2014/03/140320_l41_visual_arts_year_end_92.shtml>
Masinaei, S. (2013) Birds by Taha Behbahani; in conversation with artist, the Iranian ambassador to fight against poverty. BBC Persian: Art. Available from: <http://www.bbc.com/persian/arts/2013/11/131127_l41_visual_taha_behbahani_interview.shtml>
Masinaei, S. (2013) Iranian contemporary art boom in Dubai, false excitement, Western curiosity or superior quality? BBC Persian: Art. Available from: <http://www.bbc.com/persian/arts/2013/10/131009_l41_visual_art_art_modern_review.shtml?SThisFB>
Masinaei, S. (2011) Looking at me, looking at you: development of Iranian art through political restructures, restructuring political developments through Iranian art. London: Central Saint Martins, University of Arts London.
Masinaei, S. (2007) Restless Thoughts. Tehran: Contemporary Voice.
Masinaei, S. (2005) One Gulf Apart. Tehran: Roshanan Publishers.
REEVIEWS
https://tandismag.com/53821/سارا-مسینایی-آریا-ابوالحسنی-عکاسی.html